Why We Created an Unsponsored Guide to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a city of layers. There is the layer you see on Instagram: The flawless latte art at a Nimman cafe, the pristine white temples, and the elephants bathing in a river that looks suspiciously clean. Then, there is the layer you see on TikTok: The frantic 15-second clips of “Must Visit” spots, usually accompanied by loud music and a caption that says “Hidden Gem” (even though there are 500 people standing in line).

And then, there is the Real Chiang Mai. The Chiang Mai where the Khao Soi broth has been simmering for 40 years in the same pot. The Chiang Mai where the “best view” isn’t a paid rooftop bar, but a quiet rock on the side of a mountain that nobody talks about. The Chiang Mai where you can sit for three hours with a good book and a pre-roll of Blue Dream, and nobody rushes you to buy another drink.

At Haze Buds, we live in that third layer. We are a cannabis dispensary, yes. But we are also locals. We are expats who have made this city our home. We are foodies, hikers, and explorers. And lately, we have noticed a problem.

The Problem: The “Influencer Industrial Complex”

Let’s be honest with each other. Travel has changed. Ten years ago, you asked a local where to eat. Today, you open Google Maps or Instagram, and you are bombarded with “reviews.”

But here is the dirty little secret of the tourism industry in Thailand (and the world): Many of those reviews are bought. We see it happen. A new cafe opens. They invite twenty influencers. They give them free food, free drinks, and sometimes an envelope of cash. In exchange, the influencers post photos with captions like “Best Toast in the World!”

Is it the best toast? Probably not. It’s just the toast that paid the marketing budget.

This creates a cycle of disappointment for you, the traveler. You see a place online. It looks amazing. You take a Grab across town. You arrive, and it’s a “photo studio” that happens to serve coffee. The staff are stressed. The food is mediocre but photogenic. The vibe is frantic. You leave feeling empty, and lighter in the wallet.

For our community—the cannabis community—this is especially frustrating. Why? Because cannabis enhances the truth. When you are high, your “BS Detector” is turned up to eleven. If a restaurant has bad energy, you feel it instantly. If the food is soulless, it tastes like cardboard. If the music is just a Spotify algorithm designed to make you buy more, it hurts your ears.

We realized that our customers were coming into the shop, buying premium top-shelf flowers like Lemon Cherry BX2 or Amnesia Haze, and then asking us: “Where should I go?” We couldn’t in good conscience send them to the “TikTok Famous” spots. We wanted to send them to the places we go.

The Solution: The Haze Buds Standard

So, we decided to do something different. We decided to write a guide. But not just any guide. An Unsponsored Guide.

This wasn’t a marketing gimmick. It was a necessity. We wanted to create a resource that reflected the values of the Haze Buds lifestyle: Quality, Authenticity, and Chill.

Here is the methodology behind the guide you are about to download.

1. The “Zero Freebies” Rule

This is the most important rule. We paid for everything. Every bowl of noodles, every cup of coffee, every entry fee to a waterfall. Gato (our team lead and resident foodie) insisted on this. “If we get it for free, we taste it differently,” he said. “We have to pay full price to know if it’s actually worth the money.” If a meal cost 500 Baht and it wasn’t good, we felt the pain of losing that money, just like you would. That pain ensures our reviews are honest. If a place made it into the guide, it means we spent our own hard-earned cash and walked away happy.

2. The “Vibe Check”

For a cannabis user, the “Vibe” is a tangible metric. It’s part of the Set and Setting. A restaurant might have 5 Michelin stars, but if the waiters are rude or the lights are too bright, it’s a terrible place to be after smoking a relaxing Indica. Our guide specifically filters for Atmosphere.

Is the music too loud?
Is the seating comfortable? (Crucial for the ‘couch-lock’ moments)
Are the staff friendly to people who might be a little bit slow in ordering?
Is there a connection to nature? We looked for places that feel like a warm hug, not a transaction.

3. The Sensory Test

Cannabis heightens your senses. Taste, smell, and sound become sharper. We curated this guide based on Sensory Value. We didn’t just pick the “best” burger. We picked the burger with the most interesting texture. We didn’t just pick the “best” park. We picked the park with the best soundscape (birds, water, wind) because we know that when you are high, the sound of the wind in the bamboo is better than any concert.

What You Will Find Inside

The guide is broken down into the three pillars of a perfect Chiang Mai trip: Eat, Explore, and Chill.

Chapter 1: The Munchies (Food)

We avoided the big chains. We focused on the heroes of the street.

The 40 Baht Legend: We found a noodle shop that has been open for 30 years, where the broth is darker than your coffee and richer than a French reduction.
The Mookata Experience: As mentioned in Gato’s blog, we break down exactly which Thai BBQ buffet gives you the best marinated pork without the MSG headache.
The Late Night Rescue: Where do you go at 2 AM when everything is closed but you are starving? We found the spot that serves steamed buns to the night owls.

Chapter 2: The Sanctuary (Nature)

Chiang Mai is green, but some green spaces are better than others.

The Quiet Waterfall: We skip the ones crowded with tour buses. We guide you to the “hidden tier” where you can actually meditate or read a book in silence.
The Secret Garden: There is a spot in the Old City—a literal ruin of a temple—that is overgrown with grass and completely silent. It is the best place in the city to sit for 20 minutes and do absolutely nothing.

Chapter 3: The Culture (Temples & Art)

Temples can be overwhelming. We selected the ones that offer a spiritual atmosphere, not just a photo op.

The Wooden Wonder: A temple made entirely of teak wood that smells like history.
The Artist Village: A guide to Baan Kang Wat, but with specific advice on which coffee shop has the best seats for people-watching.

Why “Unsponsored” Matters Now More Than Ever

We are living in an age of noise. You are bombarded with ads from the moment you wake up. Your Instagram feed is an ad. Your YouTube video is interrupted by ads. Even the “articles” you read are often disguised ads.

It is exhausting.

At Haze Buds, we are in the business of relaxation. We provide products that help you disconnect from the stress and reconnect with yourself. This guide is an extension of that product. We want to save you the stress of scrolling through fake reviews. We want to save you the disappointment of a bad meal. We want to give you back your time.

Join the Community

This guide is a living document. Chiang Mai changes fast. We consider this a collaboration with you, our customers. When you download the guide and visit these spots, we want to hear from you. Did the noodle soup blow your mind? Did you find a new hidden corner at the waterfall? Come back to the shop. Tell Gato. Tell the budtenders. We will update the guide based on your real experiences, not based on who paid us the most money.

A Final Note on Responsibility

We wrote this guide for people who enjoy cannabis. But with great power comes great responsibility.

Respect the Locals: When you visit these hidden spots, remember you are a guest. Smile. Speak softly. Don’t leave trash.
Respect the Laws: Do not smoke in public places, temples, or restaurants. Consume responsibly in private or designated areas before you go.
Respect Yourself: Stay hydrated. Know your limits.

Ready to Explore?

The Real Chiang Mai is waiting for you. It’s smelling of charcoal smoke and jasmine. It’s sounding like temple bells and motorbike engines. It’s tasting like lime and chili.

Don’t let an algorithm decide your trip. Trust the locals. Trust the stoners. Trust Haze Buds.

Join the movement. Download the Unsponsored Guide.