Inside Cape Town’s first smart shop - Cape Town Magazine Feature

Cape Town’s first smart shop wants you to have “legal happy highs” that are 100% safe, tested and legal, with no chemicals or comedowns. We spoke to co-founder Sebastian Milner, who shares his team’s vision for Happy420 Africa and gives you a guide to the products made from cannabis; kratom, a South Asian plant; sceletium, a botanical used by the Khoi and San; and more. 

SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON CAPE TOWN MAGAZINE

“It’s naive to think that people won’t use recreational substances,” says Sebastian. He’s spent many years operating in the party scene as a festival owner and has seen the dangers of drugs, and even alcohol, which can make people aggressive.

He wants to make the experience cleaner and safer, “with natural ways to boost mood and serotonin, where everything is tested and where people know exactly what they’re taking.” 

Everything is not only beautifully branded, with cheery colours of orange, yellow, green, or blue – it is also lab-tested.

See the Happy420 Africa dosage guide for smart shop and cannabis products.

Happy420 Africa is not a weed shop, and it doesn't look like one. At the trendy store just a minute’s walk from the Labia, RnB beats mingle with sounds of traffic that pour in from the wide windows. 

It’s a smart shop, designed for people exploring the future of wellness and functional plant medicine. Smart shops started in the Netherlands and are blossoming in Europe.

Happy420 Africa began at a nightclub in Ibiza, where Sebastian met his German business partner Jakob Malkmus. Safety and trust are paramount to the brand; that’s why Happy420 Africa makes its own products.

Think tryp mushroom gummies without the crazy visuals; sceletium gummies, a succulent used by the Khoi and San with effects similar to ecstasy; and kratom gummies, a South Asian plant offering natural sedative effects without wiping you out.

There are no illegal substances; instead, legal designer compounds are created by chemists. This creates a mellow, less intense effect that is safer and more controllable. Here’s the Happy420 Africa dosage guide for smart shop and cannabis products. 

“Because the illegal compound, psilocybin, is extracted, you don’t get the intense visuals that you would with magic mushrooms. Expect a happy mood, more energy, and a gentle lift in perception. It’s recreational and ideal for braais or a night out. Start with just one gummy, especially if you’re not used to it, for energy and euphoria. If you want a more intense trip, take four. "

“These use sceletium, which flushes your brain with serotonin, the feel-good chemical. Unlike ecstasy, it doesn’t deplete your serotonin levels, so there’s no depressive comedown. Start with half a gummy for a mood boost and chatty buzz. People also use them to aid anxiety and depression; take a quarter for medicinal purposes. ” 

"This is our natural chill pill. It’s used for calming, stress relief and mood-lifting, without putting you out like a sedative. It’s great for a night in or after a stressful day at work. Start with half and slowly adjust until you find your sweet spot. ” 

More smart shop products are evolving. Keep a lookout on the Happy420 Africa online smart shop. 

The cannabis gummies are incredibly popular, and each is designed for a different effect. Don’t mix the cannabis gummies with the smart shop gummies.

"These are high in CBD and CBN, two cannabinoids that aid sleep and anxiety. They ease the body and calm the mind without knocking you out or creating an intense high. Use these for sleep or to relax at the end of a long week. Start with half if you’re new to weed or a full gummy if you’ve used it before."

"Lift uses sativa, a strain known for energy and upliftment (great for a party or festival, if you like that vibe). These are strong, so start slow with a quarter to a half gummy."

"With an apt name, this sativa-indica hybrid offers a euphoric high with a creative twist. With 20mg THC and 25mg CBD, they create a clear-headed buzz that keeps you present but inspired. These are also strong, so start with a quarter."

Happy420 Africa vapes, which come in rechargeable and one-use versions, are available in all kinds of flavours – cherry, berry gelato, lemon, watermelon, raspberry ice… These are some of the bestsellers. See more information on the Happy420 Africa weed vapes. 

The staff at the store can advise which product is best for you. You can also buy smart shop and cannabis products from Happy420 Africa online. Happy420 Africa’s gummies are both legal and carefully crafted. No nasties, just the good stuff. 

Shop online: Smart shop and cannabis products from Happy420 Africa
Shop in store: 8 Rheede Street, Gardens, Cape Town 
Happy420 store hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm 
Contact: Via the Happy420 Africa website or Whatsapp +27 071 333 2420

SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON CAPE TOWN MAGAZINE