Live Glass Art Studio

A Dispensary Like No Other

Cottonmouth Dispensary is the only cannabis retailer in the country with a fully operational flameworking studio built directly into the retail space. It is not just a cannabis store — it is a cultural experience. Built into our Runnemede location is a fully operational indoor flameworking studio where glass artists create handmade borosilicate glass art in real time, right on the sales floor.

Cannabis and glass art have deep cultural roots together, and we built Cottonmouth to celebrate both — the only dispensary in the country to put a live working studio inside the building.

What Is Flameworking?

Flameworking (also called lampworking or torchworking) is a glassworking technique where an artist uses a specialized torch to melt and shape borosilicate glass rods and tubes. Unlike glassblowing, which uses a furnace and blowpipe, flameworking is done at a bench with a torch that can reach temperatures over 3,000°F.

The artist manipulates the molten glass using hand tools, gravity, and careful breathing through a blowtube to create hollow forms. Borosilicate glass (the same material used in lab equipment like Pyrex) is preferred because it is durable, heat-resistant, and produces brilliant colors when metallic oxides are added during production.

Flameworking allows for incredible detail work — intricate color patterns, sculpted creatures, fine filigree, and functional pieces that are as beautiful as they are usable.

Read our complete Flameworking Guide

Live Demonstrations

Our studio is active throughout the week. When an artist is at the bench, you can watch the entire process — from pulling a glass rod to the final annealing (slow cooling in a kiln). Our artists are happy to explain what they are doing and answer questions.

Check our Events page for scheduled demo days, guest artist appearances, and special studio events.

Custom Commissions

Our artists accept custom commissions. Whether you want a one-of-a-kind pipe, a sculptural pendant, a matching set of marbles, or a display piece, we can make it happen.

1. Consultation. Visit the studio or contact us to discuss your idea. Bring reference images if you have them.
2. Quote & deposit. You will receive a price quote based on complexity and materials. A 50% deposit secures your spot in the queue.
3. Creation. The artist crafts your piece. For complex commissions, we may send progress photos.
4. Pickup & final payment. Once the piece is finished and annealed, you will receive a notification. Come pick it up, pay the remaining balance, and take home something no one else in the world has.

Turnaround time varies from a few days for simple pieces to several weeks for elaborate customs. Prices start around $50 for basic pendants and marbles.

Artist Residency Program

Cottonmouth hosts visiting glass artists through our Artist Residency Program. Guest artists work in our studio for a defined period, creating and selling pieces on-site. It is a chance for customers to see different styles and techniques, and for artists to reach an audience that appreciates handmade glass.

Residencies typically last 1-4 weeks. During a residency, the visiting artist may host live demos, offer limited-edition pieces for sale, and collaborate with our in-house team on special projects.

Interested in a residency? Submit an artist application

What Is Available on the Floor

Our glass display cases are stocked with handmade pieces created right here in the studio, as well as select pieces from guest and partner artists.

Inventory rotates as new pieces are created and sold. Every piece is one-of-a-kind and will not be remade.

Browse Glass Art Merchandise

Glass Art and Cannabis Culture

Glass pipes and cannabis have been intertwined since the 1960s, when American glass artists began creating functional smoking pieces as works of art. What started as a counterculture craft has evolved into a recognized art form with galleries, collectors, and international exhibitions.

At Cottonmouth, we honor that history. Our studio is not an afterthought or a gimmick — it is central to our identity. When you buy glass from Cottonmouth, you are buying something that was made by hand, in the same room where you are standing.

Visit the Studio