From Tiffany’s to Joe’s Pizza to All the Smells, Here’s a No Bullshit Epibud Review of Cannabis Tourism in Manhattan
We decided to visit Manhattan on Christmas Eve. The weather wasn’t terrible – overcast and about 40ºF (4ºC) with little wind. Good weather for walking the city.
Flying into La Guardia was painless. A quick Uber ride to Rockefeller Center and we were underway with about 5 hours to run wild in the city before we had to head back to the airport.
Christmas Eve this year landed on a Sunday. Finding an open dispensary was going to be a bit challenging, given the double whammy. A word to the wise – call ahead to ensure the dispensary is truly open before jumping in an Uber or taxi. Google and Leafly lead us astray twice – only to find differing hours posted on the closed dispensary’s door with us standing there out $30 saying “Well fuck…”
Plan Your Cannabis Tourism Route
Plan your cannabis tourism trip ahead. Most dispensaries in the borough of Manhattan are found below 14th Street. There is a MedMen in Midtown South, but it was closed the day we visited. There wasn’t anything North of that in Manhattan.
Thanks to a bill passed by Albany lawmakers in 2021, New Yorkers 21 years and older can possess, use, buy, transport, smoke or consume up to three ounces of marijuana and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis, used in products like tinctures, vape pen oils or butters.
The City, “Your Guide to Legal Cannabis in New York City: Where to Buy and How it Works“
Do be aware there are many illegal cannabis dispensaries in New York City. Look for a blue and white window sticker that says “Licensed New York State Dispensary” and has a scan to verify QR code. The city has been cracking down on illegal shops, recently passing bills allowing NYPD greater power to shit them down. Additionally, here is a directory of legal dispensaries in New York State.
The Travel Agency Experience
The one we found open was The Travel Agency, A Cannabis Store found at 835 Broadway, right down the street from Union Square.
Cannabis branding has come a long way in the last five years. The Travel Agency is no exception. The interior design of the store felt like being inside a space ship. Everything is white with pink and purple accent lighting. One might think they’ve stepped into the lounge for Virgin Atlantic. Product was displayed under clear plastic bubbles on round white tables.
After a security age check, friendly, smiling staff directed us to a digital kiosk (also white) on a round white table to view their inventory. It was like browsing a website with filtering options depending on what we wanted.
After we made our selection, we were told our order would be out shortly. As this was one of the few dispensaries open this day, it was pretty busy, yet we didn’t really have to wait at all. We stood watching everyone, and taking in the wild interior design of its spaceship-esque showroom. There was music but it was not very obtrusive.
About five minutes later our order appeared. We paid for our disposable vapes and were surprised to see credit cards were accepted, something that is rare in other states who struggle even to maintain debit capabilities. Although they did only take VISA or MC, not AMEX.
All the staff were friendly and The Travel Agency cannabis store had a wide inventory to choose from at typical eight prices. Check out The Travel Agency’s website here.
Is it Legal to Smoke Cannabis on the Street in New York City? Yes and No
While it is legal to smoke on the streets of New York City, the Smoke Free Air Act of 2002 makes it illegal to do so in parks and public plazas, such as Times Square. The Smoke Are Air Act isn’t targeting cannabis alone. Smoking of any kind, including the use of electronic cigarettes is prohibited. You may be fined $50 for violations.
State republicans however are trying to pass legislation to ban smoking cannabis in public everywhere, stating their position of cannabis being different than tobacco, although currently governed by the same laws.
As we were only in town for the day and flying in the evening, we opted for disposable vapes. We found an uncrowded side street to walk down and were on our way to explore Fifth Avenue and do some Christmas Eve shopping.
Cannabis Tourism in Manhattan – Final Thoughts
Even though there is the Smoke Free Air Act, we smelled cannabis everywhere we went. It being Christmas Eve, there were lots of people out and feeling quite merry, enjoying themselves from Fifth Avenue to Union Square.
Official cannabis dispensaries, specifically for recreational use, have been slow to roll out. There are many illegal shops, so again, be wary who you re buying from to ensure a safe and quality experience.
While we did find it hard to find an open dispensary, it was Sunday and Christmas Eve so we won’t ding Manhattan much for that. We did eventually find The Travel Agency on Broadway near Union Square and had a great experience.
The state regulatory body is pushing for legislation to allow legal recreational cannabis lounges in the future. Expect some swanky cannabis clubs to emerge once this is passed.
We vaped and walked, mostly on non-crowded side streets which is where you find the great stuff anyway, right? Sitting in the Delta lounge on Christmas Eve at JFK before our flight home, we reflected on the whirlwind day. – E.
