In 2019 Whakamana relocated to Shand's Emporium in Christchurch when Abe Gray and Cookie Time founder Michael Mayell formed a partnership to grow the concept.

[3][4] Whakamana sought to establish itself as a social club, an authority for cannabis education and events (i.e. lectures by figures in the cannabis industry), and an alcohol-free music venue and eatery producing hemp-based foods,[5] and in late 2019, the museum attempted to raise funds via PledgeMe, a crowdfunding platform for New Zealand-based businesses, to help complete restoration of their new site.

On August 9th 2024 the Museum was officially re-opened by Auckland Central Member of Parliament and Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick in a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The museum served as an information service to educate the public about all aspects of cannabis, including books that are unavailable at other libraries.

[14] Gray publicly left his role as the president of the ALCP to support The Opportunities Party (TOP) in 2017, believing the organisation to be the most viable political platform to help effect cannabis law change at the time.

[17] In 2018 the museum left its original home in South Dunedin to occupy a new central city premises in the Eldon Chambers Building in Princes Street.

Gray teamed with Michael Mayell, a social entrepreneur and environmentalist known for founding the snack company Cookie Time.

Mayell has an interest in the emerging hemp economy and argues that it could allow New Zealand to reduce its reliance on dairy farming.

[22] The museum has hosted past events featuring notable individuals and experts on cannabis including activists and green fairy[note 1] Rose Renton.

[24] However, the campaign had failed to raise its minimum target of $1 million NZD, therefore the total amount was returned to investors in accordance with the terms of PledgeMe.

On August 9th 2024 the Museum was officially re-opened by Auckland Central Member of Parliament and Green Party Co-Leader Chloe Swarbrick in a ribbon cutting ceremony.