Rolling Stoner Magazine and Route 420 founder and CEO Cameron Bramley says his team has covered close on 200 000 kilometres and visited 694 cannabis-related outlets over the three years or so that the Route 420 project has been on the burner.
Along the way, the project uncovered far more than retail outlets, it’s revealed a connected culture built around community, wellness, lifestyle, storytelling, travel and experience.
“At the time, I thought I was simply visiting stores,” says Bramley. “What I didn’t realise was that we had begun documenting a hidden world that already existed across South Africa. Route 420 was never meant to be just another map. It was becoming a journey.”
He says that Route 420 is being built around careful selection of establishments committed to responsible cannabis use.
“Being part of Route 420 is not about appearing on a list. Every establishment needs to add something meaningful to the journey. We are looking for places with character, credibility, care and a real connection to the communities around them. They are chosen for their character, location, story, community value, hospitality and ability to contribute meaningfully to a responsible cannabis tourism experience.
He says the platform is not about encouraging excess or treating cannabis as a novelty. Instead, it aims to help adults engage with cannabis culture in an informed, respectful and experience-led way.
“Route 420’s focus is on helping people get the most out of South Africa’s landscapes, venues, communities and travel experiences while recognising the importance of personal responsibility, safe choices and respect for local spaces.
Bramley says the project has grown to the extent that it’s up to the broader cannabis community to develop further.
“South Africa is too vast, too diverse and too full of hidden treasures for one team to discover alone,” says Bramley. “The next chapter of Route 420 belongs to the community.”
He has urged interested parties to contact Rolling Stoner here . The packages and experiences that form part of Route 420’s initial offering can be viewed here.
Bramley says that over the next nine months, the Route 420 team will continue to develop the framework and select locations that will shape the next stage of the platform. These may include independent destinations, multi-store operators, lounges, accommodation partners and tourism experiences that expand the network.
As part of the next phase, Route 420 will introduce Smoke Signals, a community-led feature that allows members to contribute their own discoveries to the map.
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Sean Hocking
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