New York’s two-and-a-half-year-old legal cannabis program is like a fueled-up rocket just steaming on the launch pad, waiting for ignition.
The state’s regulators have nearly run out of ways to fumble the ball, and stores are finally opening on a near-daily basis. The New York City metro area has about 2 million weed smokers, but up until now had just a handful of retail stores. That’s all changing, so we’ve started this NYC Weed Visitor’s Guide to get you oriented, hooked up, and having fun in the big city. Let’s freaking go.
What are NYC’s weed rules?
Weed is now legal for adults 21 and up. The police have stopped making arrests for possession. You’re not supposed to smoke in the parks, but the existing policy is to allow you to smoke on the sidewalk.
You can have up to 3 ounces, 24 grams of hash, and grow 6 plants.
“New York is now the best city for smoking weed,” said lounge owner Ben at the Astor Club.
Read the details of the law on our Leafly Learn Legalization page for New York. And be sure to check official sources.
Where are NYC’s legal weed stores?
The number of licensed, operational cannabis stores changes daily in NYC as the program finally ramps. Use Leafly Finder to look at a map of licensed cannabis stores in Manhattan.
Dispensary spotlight
What’s the closest legal weed store to La Guardia or JFK airport?
That would be Good Grades in Queens, NYC at 162-03 Jamaica Ave. Place an online order for same-day pickup, or just walk in.
For stores that have not advertised with Leafly, the state of New York maintains a list of licensed retailers.
We’ve started a Google MyMap to quickly track all licensed and operational dispensaries in the NYC Metro area, plus stoner food and attractions.
What is some good weed to buy in New York?
Good question. Leafly has started professionally rating cannabis in New York and here’s what we got so far.
Budtenders in New York tell Leafly they recommend: Super Runtz, Sour Diesel, and Blueberry Muffin.
In terms of brands, budtenders chose: Matter and Curaleaf most often. We also like Ithaca Organics and Electraleaf.
The top 10 strains of New York in 2023—based on strain detail page sessions per month at Leafly—are: Lemon Cherry Gelato, Original Glue, Blue Dream, Runtz, Gary Payton, Sour Diesel, Wedding Cake, Gelato, Permanent Marker, and Oreoz.
Beyond flower, we like Kiva Camino gummies, and Cookies vapes.
Remember, you can order weed for delivery and pickup now. Here’s how:
I am high, what do I do now in NYC?
Anything your heart can dream up.
For NYC’s best weed attractions, go to:
- The THC Museum
- The Highline Park
- Washington Square Park
- Times Square
- The Cookies store
- The Strand Bookstore
- and look up NYC’s daily events calendars (Time Out) and get into it.
Look at the map above for locations.
For NYC’s best stoner munchie food, get:
- Joe’s Pizza
- The Donut Pub
- Dim Sum Palace
- Madison Square Park Shake Shack
- Beer Culture
- Joe’s Shanghai
- Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
What is the latest news on legal weed in New York
Jan. 4 update:
- The NY Cannabis Growers Showcases have ended.
- State officials have blocked legal farmers from selling to tribes, despite a glut of 250,000 pounds of unsold weed due to the state’s retail bottleneck.
- New stores continue to open and we’re adding them to our Google map above.
- Also, New York stores did $150 million in sales in 2023, with $24 million sold at Housing Works.
- And AJ’s Sour Diesel continues to debut in select stores all winter, via a deal with Flowerhouse. Follow Flowerhouse and Get Sour for the next drop. Watch an interview with the famous Diesel popularizer, AJ, that Leafly conducted live on Instagram November 28.
Fresh indoor cannabis is coming to adult-use dispensaries, as well. The state’s preexisting medical cannabis operators—who have indoor grows—just got permission to sell into stores. Look out for fresh Ratings on New York’s first legal indoor weed in the coming weeks.
New York weed visitors frequently asked questions
What does CAURD mean?
New York loves acronyms and CAURD is jargon for a legal weed store. It stands for cannabis adult-use retail dispensary. Very official.
What’s up with the bodegas selling weed?
New York police and regulators are taking a hands-off approach to people that violate the remaining criminal and civil laws against unlicensed cannabis sales and distribution. Consequently, more than 1,000 outlets purport to sell THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. These products are not tested by the state of New York for purity and potency. Past untested cannabis products in New York have contained poisonous vape chemicals, and other impurities.
New York authorities are focusing on threatening landlords that lease to unlicensed shops.
What’s up with the weed lounges?
They’re cool. They vary in quality from shabby to swanky. They don’t have a license per se, but they pitch themselves as private, members-only spaces where people consume cannabis. Ask around for local ones like The Astor Club, or Work N Roll.
Looking beyond New York? Here’s Leafly’s List of New York State’s best dispensaries 2023
Got more questions? What else do you want to see in a visitor’s guide? Drop us a comment and we’ll get on it. Good luck and have fun!
