Whakamana Cannabis Museum

Whakamana Cannabis Museum is a museum dedicated to cannabis history and culture, based in Auckland. It is the first cannabis museum in New Zealand, designed to be a national information centre on aspects of the science, history, and legislation surrounding cannabis, with an aim to educate the public and destigmatise adult use of cannabis. Whakamana operates within New Zealand's laws and does not sell cannabis to the public. However, the museum operates in a shared space in conjunction with Calyx Clinic, a legal medicinal dispensary. The museum also hosts community events for patients, and utilises its premises for community functions.

Whakamana was first opened in October 2013 in Dunedin by Abe Gray and Julian Crawford, who were the former deputy leader and the former spokesperson of the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (ALCP), respectively. The museum was a joint effort between the ALCP and Otago NORML. In 2018, the museum relocated to the Eldon Chambers Building in Princes Street, but closed down several months later after Gray moved to Christchurch and struggled to find volunteers to keep the Dunedin branch open.

In 2019, Gray went into partnership with Cookie Time founder Michael Mayell, who saw the project as a vessel for his interest in hemp foods and sustainability. The museum reopened in the renovated Shand's Emporium in Christchurch. Gray and Mayell began promoting the project in the lead up to the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum, with plans to develop Whakamana into a social club, alcohol-free venue and dispensary depending on the outcome. In late 2019, a fundraiser was launched on PledgeMe to crowdfund for the completion of their new site. The campaign failed to raise its minimum target of $1 million NZD, therefore voiding the campaign, with the money returned to investors. Following revenue issues and a failure to find suitable investors, the Christchurch location was closed. Gray relocated to Wellington the following year and attempted to relaunch the project, however the plan was scuppered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, Gray moved to Auckland and began a new fundraiser to reopen the museum in the Hopetoun Alpha heritage building, intending it to be a permanent location. The project received NZ$500,000 in financial support from an unnamed wealthy donor, allowing the museum to remain at the property, which has since been dubbed the "Green House". On 9 August 2024, Whakamana was officially opened by Auckland Central Member of Parliament and Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick in a ribbon cutting ceremony.