Girl Scout Cookie Sales at Cannabis Dispensaries Stir Controversy and Policy Debates
In a recent incident that has sparked national discussion, some New Jersey Girl Scouts reportedly "got in trouble" with senior leaders for setting up a cookie booth outside a local weed dispensary. This event underscores the ongoing tension between entrepreneurial spirit and organizational guidelines within the iconic cookie-selling tradition.
Unconventional Sales Locations: From Shooting Ranges to Bars
Troops across the United States have long demonstrated remarkable ingenuity in selecting sales locations, targeting areas with high foot traffic or specific demographics likely to crave their treats. These venues have included shooting ranges, marijuana shops, and college-town bars, reflecting a pragmatic approach to fundraising. However, permission for such sales appears to vary significantly from state to state, creating a patchwork of regulations.
The New Jersey Incident: Success and Disapproval
Last month, an unidentified troop conducted a trial run selling cookies outside Daylite Dispensary in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Store owner Steve Cassidy revealed that the idea had been rejected by the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey the previous year, but the troop proceeded regardless. Cassidy attributed the sales success partly to the cannabis-induced "munchies", noting that the effort was community-oriented. Despite this, senior Girl Scout leadership expressed unhappiness with the move, leaving the troop potentially facing repercussions.
"It was about community," Cassidy told The Independent. "If that means the local Girl Scout troop got in trouble, that is absolutely not what we wanted." He declined to provide further comments on the matter. It remains unclear whether the troop returned for a second scheduled sale planned for Friday evening, as attempts to contact the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey, as well as national headquarters, went unanswered.
Official Guidelines and Historical Precedents
In a statement to News 12, the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey clarified their policy: "Girl Scouts can set up booths outside of businesses that they would be able to enter and purchase something." This aligns with an undated Cookie Booth Essentials guide on the Girl Scouts' website, which advises against sales in or directly outside establishments where minors are not legally permitted to enter.
Reports of cookie sales at cannabis dispensaries are not new, particularly on the West Coast:
- In 2018, a San Diego Girl Scout sold over 300 boxes in six hours outside Urbn Leaf dispensary, promoted via a now-deleted Instagram post.
- In 2014, a 13-year-old in San Francisco sold 117 boxes in just two hours outside a medical marijuana clinic.
That same year, some Girl Scout councils, including Colorado, implemented restrictions on sales near dispensaries, bars, and liquor stores. However, by 2018, Colorado had eased these rules, adopting a more flexible approval process based on safety and legal compliance.
Evolution of Cookie Sales: From Door-to-Door to Digital
Girl Scouts have been selling cookies to fund troop activities and teach entrepreneurship since 1917. The sales methods have evolved significantly:
- Originally, door-to-door sales were the primary approach.
- Booths outside supermarkets and grocery stores became common.
- Modern methods include accepting credit cards and digital payments through apps like Venmo.
- Online sales began in December 2014 with the "Digital Cookie" platform.
- Today, social media plays a crucial role, as seen with six-year-old Pim Neill of Pittsburgh, who went viral on TikTok and sold approximately 121,500 boxes.
Creative Ventures and Community Support
Despite controversies, Girl Scouts continue to find inventive ways to sell cookies. Examples include:
- Sales at gun stores or ranges, as reported in a February 2023 Reddit forum.
- Seven-year-old Siena selling out inventory twice in West Hollywood with support from drag queens and patrons of gay bars.
- Sales at high-profile events like the 2016 Oscars.
AnneMarie Harper, a spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Colorado, emphasized the organization's support for entrepreneurial creativity: "We really want girls to be cookie entrepreneurs, to find new and creative ways to reach customers." This philosophy highlights the balance between fostering innovation and adhering to safety and legal standards, a challenge that continues to shape Girl Scout cookie sales across the nation.
