The legal cannabis landscape is changing rapidly in NYC and beyond, but there are some local dispensaries that have managed to stand out from the crowd. We’ve rounded up nine of the best that offer a combination of top-quality products and memorable experiences. Keep in mind that while these dispensaries are fully licensed and provide a safe, regulated environment to purchase and consume cannabis, they still expect you to comply with state laws, including being of legal age, adhering to possession limits, and consuming in designated areas.
The first legal dispensary to open in Astoria, Terp Bros is not only happy to have finally opened its doors but also committed to giving back to the community that helped it grow. As such, they’re offering a special deal to customers who show them their receipt from another local business — like wine bar Tootles & French or specialty grocer the Bier & Cheese Collective — in exchange for a discount on their cannabis products. “We’re a real neighborhood shop,” says co-founder and CEO Jeremy Unger, who’s proud that the company can support local businesses that have supported them.
One big difference between New York’s legal cannabis and the unofficial stuff: The products you can buy in a licensed dispensary are made from plants grown inside of New York State by a Dispensary Near Me certified cultivator, and they have to meet rigorous health and safety standards. The cannabis itself is tested and labeled for potency, and the store is required to charge taxes based on product type and potency (i.e., oils and edibles are taxed higher than flower).
If you’re a cannabis user with specific medical needs, you can even find your ideal strain with Leafly’s award-winning weed app. Its innovative search functionality allows you to discover the right buds, tinctures, topicals, or pot edibles for you based on reported effects and feelings. It can also help you discover nearby cannabis retailers and order delivery with ease.
For those who want to go the extra mile, New York’s legal dispensaries offer a wide variety of consumption options, from smoking lounges and vape bars to “cannabis cafes” where you can bring your own edibles or snacks and eat while you smoke, vape, or ingest cannabis in a more supervised setting. The OCM hasn’t yet released an estimate for when it might open that category of consumption facility, which could be something as simple as a BYOW (bring your own weed) lounge.
The Bottom Line
It’s important to remember that although New York has legalized cannabis for both medicinal and recreational use, the OCM doesn’t license consumption facilities (i.e., marijuana clubs). You’ll have to visit a dispensary or purchase your cannabis products online if you want to enjoy the benefits of medical or recreational marijuana legally in the state. And as the market continues to evolve, more competitors are expected to open, which will only improve the quality and selection of cannabis in your local area.
Toronto Marijuana Dispensary 