Jan 26th–Feb 1st, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times State Licensed Dispensaries & Doctor Cer tifications 35 October 13, and November 23, Labrada estimates he and his team gave out over 3,000 tacos per day. April 20 is known as Weed Day or 420, a day when cannabis cultivators, consumers, and advocates celebrate and smoke pot. It’s one of the busiest days of the year for dispensaries. On October 13, Mint Cannabis in Tempe became the first dispensary in Arizona to remain open for 24 hours. Green Wednesday on November 23 is the second-highest-grossing day for dispensaries, as they offer serious discounts and deals. “For that day, people bring their friends,” Labrada says, so they can split the BOGO deals. “They all get free tacos after.” For these special days, Labrada, his family, and staff, which totals 15 workers and assistants, prep about 200 pounds of meat the night before. On non-holidays, they set up and give out free tacos at the Mint stores in Mesa and the two locations in Phoenix. “We use about 140 pounds of meat per store when it’s not special days,” he says, estimating that makes about 2,000 tacos. The tacos are always free, with a limit of two per person, and they are never infused with THC, Labrada says, clarifying a common question he receives. Over the years, as the amount of Mint locations has grown, so has the popularity of Labrada’s free tacos. In 2017, there was one dispensary in Tempe, with 10 free taco dates averaging about 1,000 plates or 2,000 tacos per day. They gave away approximately 20,000 tacos in that inau- gural year. In 2018, Mint had two dispensaries and gave away about 48,000 tacos. In 2019 they provided 72,000 tacos. In 2020, 120,000. Then by 2021, the Mint had three dispen- saries, bringing up the yearly taco tally to 210,000. Last year, the numbers came in at 202,000. “Total for all time is 1,002,000 tacos which cost about $752,000 in cost to the Mint,” Molina says in an email. It’s not just hundreds of thousands of free tacos the Mint funds. Molina and Eivan Shahara, the Mint Cannabis CEO and co-owner, have donated more than $3 million to locals in need since they opened the dispensary in 2017. “I feel blessed because Raul [Molina] is making us a part of this,” Labrada says. In a show of appreciation, “I make Raul and Eivan mulitas. They are made of a flat tortilla, with meat, vegetables, guacamole, salsa and cheese, and another tortilla,” he says. The mulitas are then grilled until the cheese oozes from the sides. “And when my family visits us in Phoenix, they always request me to make them queso birria tacos,” Labrada adds. The queso birria tacos and mulitas are not a part of the taco promotions at Mint. On February 10, Mint will offer free tacos at its new dispensary on 75th Avenue, Molina says. “Everyone is always welcome and no purchase is necessary,” he adds. | CANNABIS | Ascension “El Chon” Labrada and his crew have given away over a million tacos since 2017. Tacos from p 33 Mike Madriaga
