“The Cousin Walk”: How Green Wednesday Became the High-Holiday Before Thanksgiving
The day before Thanksgiving has always had its own culture—airport chaos, grocery store lines wrapped around the building, and the last-minute frantic cleaning before family arrives. But in the past decade, a new tradition has taken hold, especially among millennials, Gen Z, and that one cool aunt: “the cousin walk.”
What used to be a discreet step-out during family gatherings has evolved into a nationally recognized ritual—and it aligns perfectly with what dispensaries now call Green Wednesday, the second-biggest cannabis sales day of the year, right behind 4/20.
The Rise of Green Wednesday
Long before brands began promoting it, shoppers organically turned the day before Thanksgiving into a cannabis boom. Data from dispensaries across legal states shows that Green Wednesday consistently brings in massive foot traffic—people stocking up before they’re stuck at home for days with relatives, obligations, and dry turkey.
Much like Black Friday’s electronics rush, Green Wednesday has become the pre-holiday smokeware restock, drawing customers buying flower, edibles, vape carts, and those “for emergencies only” gummies. For many, it’s not just about consumption—it’s about survival.
The Cultural Phenomenon of the “Cousin Walk”
If you know, you know.
If you don’t—someone has definitely left the house during dinner prep and they weren’t “running to the store.”
The cousin walk is a cherished moment of escape where cousins sneak out, take a stroll (or sit in a car with the windows cracked), and decompress before facing the annual interrogation:
- “So when are you getting married?”
- “That job still not paying enough?”
- “You’re getting older, what’s your plan?”
It’s also a bonding tradition—a way for family members, especially younger adults, to reconnect with laughter, nostalgia, and the type of honesty that only comes out between cousins who haven’t seen each other since last holiday season.
Why People Are Leaning Into It More Than Ever
Family gatherings are… a lot. Even the happiest of households can feel overwhelming. Green Wednesday and the cousin walk offer:
• Stress relief before navigating three generations in one kitchen.
• Social connection outside the heavier family dynamics.
• A moment of grounding before the intensity of the holidays ramps up.
• A way to make Thanksgiving feel fun again in a world that has become increasingly stressful.
With cannabis legalization expanding, people are also more open about their rituals. What used to be whispered about is now a shared cultural wink.
From Taboo to Tradition
Like Friendsgiving, ugly sweater parties, and holiday pj photo shoots, the cousin walk has become a staple of millennial and Gen Z holiday culture. And Green Wednesday is the unofficial kickoff—complete with dispensary deals and lines that look like Black Friday previews.
People aren’t just celebrating Thanksgiving anymore. They’re celebrating survival, connection, and a moment to breathe before the chaos.
Whether you call it a cousin walk, a stroll, a spin the block, or “checking the mail,” this pre-holiday ritual isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s growing—much like the cannabis industry powering it.
A New American Tradition
So on the night before Thanksgiving, when your cousin gives you that look—the look that says, “You tryna step outside real quick?”—just know you’re participating in a modern tradition shared across millions of homes.
Green Wednesday has become more than a sales holiday.
It’s the cultural pregame to America’s most chaotic family gathering.
And for many, it’s the only thing keeping Thanksgiving peaceful, funny, and bearable.
Because sometimes…
you need a walk.
With your cousin.
Before someone burns the mac and cheese.
