Last verified: March 2026
Two Visions of Cannabis Hospitality
The Woods and The Artist Tree sit a few blocks apart on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, but they represent two fundamentally different approaches to what a cannabis lounge can be. The Woods is celebrity-backed, lush, and private — an escape. The Artist Tree is creative, social, and event-driven — a destination. Together, they demonstrate the range of what AB 1775 has made possible and why WeHo's cannabis hospitality scene has no real equivalent anywhere else.
The Woods WeHo
8271 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
The Woods is what happens when you give Hollywood's most famous cannabis advocate a venue budget and a vision. Co-owned by Woody Harrelson, Bill Maher, and John McEnroe — three men whose public cannabis advocacy spans decades and industries — The Woods transforms a WeHo storefront into something that feels transported from a tropical resort.
The design centers on koi ponds, a tropical garden, and private cabanas. The aesthetic is deliberate: this is a lounge designed for relaxation and conversation, not for spectacle or volume. The cabanas offer semi-private spaces where small groups can consume cannabis in relative seclusion, surrounded by greenery and water features. It is the kind of environment that makes you forget you are on Santa Monica Boulevard.
The Celebrity Factor
The ownership group matters because it signals how normalized cannabis has become in mainstream entertainment. Woody Harrelson has been publicly advocating for cannabis legalization since the 1990s, long before it was professionally safe to do so. Bill Maher has made cannabis a regular talking point on his show for over two decades. John McEnroe brings the sports world into the conversation. Their collective investment in The Woods is not a vanity project — it is a statement that cannabis hospitality belongs in the same category as any other premium nightlife venue.
The Woods' koi ponds and tropical garden create an atmosphere that no other cannabis venue in America can match. Request a cabana for the most immersive experience. The venue is designed for lingering — this is not a place you rush through.
THC Beverage Bar
The Woods features a THC beverage bar offering cannabis-infused drinks as an alternative to smoking. For visitors who prefer not to smoke or who want a lower-key consumption experience, the beverage bar provides THC seltzers, infused mocktails, and other options. Since AB 1775, the beverage program has expanded to include a wider range of food and drink options.
The Artist Tree
8625 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
The Artist Tree takes a radically different approach: it is a three-story complex that combines an art gallery, a dispensary, and a consumption lounge into a single venue. The concept treats cannabis consumption as a creative act — something to do alongside art, performance, and social activity, not in isolation from it.
Three Floors, Three Experiences
- Gallery level: Rotating art exhibitions featuring local and national artists. Free to browse, curated specifically for the cannabis-adjacent audience.
- Dispensary level: A full retail dispensary where you purchase cannabis products for on-site consumption or takeaway.
- Lounge level: The consumption space, featuring comfortable seating, an open-air patio, and the event programming that sets The Artist Tree apart.
Events: Puff Puff Paint, Drag Brunches, and More
The Artist Tree has built its identity around event programming that would be at home at any trendy LA venue — with the addition of legal cannabis consumption:
- Puff Puff Paint: A cannabis-friendly twist on paint-and-sip classes. Consume cannabis and create art with instruction. Wildly popular and frequently sold out.
- Drag brunches: Brunch service with drag performances and cannabis. WeHo's LGBTQ+ culture meets cannabis hospitality.
- Comedy nights: Stand-up comedy in a cannabis-friendly environment.
- Live music: Enabled by AB 1775's ticketed performance provision.
Puff Puff Paint and drag brunches at The Artist Tree sell out regularly. Check their event calendar and book in advance, especially for weekend events. These are among the most popular cannabis experiences in all of LA.
$20 Canna-Cocktails
The Artist Tree's lounge serves $20 THC-infused canna-cocktails — cannabis beverages designed to mimic the social ritual of ordering a cocktail at a bar. The drinks are dosed for a manageable experience (typically 5–10 mg THC per serving) and presented with the same attention to presentation as a craft cocktail. For visitors who want the social experience of a bar without alcohol, the canna-cocktail program is a genuine alternative.
Comparing the Two
| Feature | The Woods | The Artist Tree |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 8271 Santa Monica Blvd | 8625 Santa Monica Blvd |
| Vibe | Tropical garden, intimate, private | Creative, social, event-driven |
| Ownership | Harrelson / Maher / McEnroe | The Artist Tree brand |
| Best for | Couples, small groups, relaxation | Events, groups, creative experiences |
| Standout feature | Koi ponds, cabanas, THC bar | 3-floor gallery, Puff Puff Paint, drag brunches |
| Cannabis drinks | THC beverage bar | $20 canna-cocktails |
| Outdoor space | Tropical garden | Open-air patio |
Visiting Both
The Woods and The Artist Tree are close enough on Santa Monica Boulevard that visiting both in a single evening is easy. A reasonable plan: start at The Artist Tree for an event or the gallery, then walk to The Woods for a more relaxed second act in the garden. The contrast between the two venues is itself a compelling experience — two completely different answers to the question of what cannabis hospitality can be.
Remember: do not drive between venues or after consuming. Both are walkable from each other, and rideshare is always available for the trip home.
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org
Related on this site: WeHo Cannabis Lounges, More WeHo Lounges, Original Cannabis Cafe.