Some have shifty sales tactics that take advantage of people who aren’t familiar with cannabis products by charging higher prices for lower quality.
So how do you know what weed New York has to offer is legit and what’s not? Here, we’ll teach you what to know when it comes to buying weed in New York, including where to get it, who to trust, and other essentials to keep in mind.
Medical weed has been legal in New York since 2014.
In early 2021, the governor passed a recreational use bill. It’s now legal to possess and use weed for personal enjoyment without risk of penalties, fines, or imprisonment.
While you can buy medical weed if you have a card, you can’t technically buy or sell recreational NYC marijuana. As a consumer, though, you generally have very little to worry about when it comes to legal repercussions because the risk always falls on the cannabis company, not you.
The key here is that you can’t provide money in exchange for weed. So, where can you buy weed in NYC?
That question leads us to the cannabis gifting system. Essentially, you get cannabis as a gift when you buy another product.
At places like Gifted Curators, experienced budtenders will do the talking and ask all of the right questions, keeping them (and you) safe from potential trouble. There are a few specifics you’ll want to keep in mind to keep things safe and legal, though.
As of right now, you can have and use recreational weed, but it’s still technically illegal to purchase it for recreational purposes.
Though again, the risk to you as a user is practically zero, as the police will typically only go after the seller, there are still a few rules you should know.
When visiting an NYC marijuana shop, your vocabulary is one of the most important things to keep in mind. You can talk about weed without a problem, but you aren’t there to “buy” weed.
You’re buying another item that the shop sells, such as a t-shirt or art print. The shop is then giving you some buds, concentrate, or edibles as a gift. The weed you get is worth the price you pay for the item.
You’ll also need to know a few NYC weed possession and use rules too.
First, you must be at least 21 to possess it. You can have up to three ounces on your person, but a shop is only allowed to gift (sell) you one. As for concentrates, you can have up to 24 grams in your possession at a given time.
In terms of actually consuming cannabis, you can use NYC marijuana in the same types of places where it’s legal to smoke cigarettes.
We’ve got some good news for cannabis users visiting New York from out of state, too. You don’t have to be a New York resident to possess and use weed. However, you won’t be able to take it home with you. Weed is still illegal federally. As such, you can’t take it across state lines.
You may have no issues possessing or using NYC weed, but buying it can be a bit more complicated.
Along with understanding the unique vocabulary associated with cannabis gifting, you also need to know where to go.
There are plenty of places where you can go to “buy” New York weed, but they aren’t all of the same caliber. You must find a New York Weed Company you can trust.
Some are looking to take advantage of new cannabis users. They’ll charge premium prices for products they say are high-quality but actually aren’t.
Fortunately, there are also highly reputable shops. Gifted BK, for instance, is a quality shop with an excellent reputation.
They’ve been operating in DC for years as one of the area’s top dispensaries. Many veteran users know who you’re talking about the instant you mention the name.
In the next couple of sections, we’ll help you understand where to go to get quality weed and how to make sure what you’re getting is legit.
The quality of your New York weed products should be a top priority. The last thing you want is to get ripped off by some company looking to make easy money by selling low-quality weed for high prices.
A shop could send you home with buds that look nothing like the ones you saw on display. Or, a delivery service could provide you with weed that ends up being bad, and you have no recourse for a refund.
You won’t run into issues like these with Gifted BK.
When you shop there, you can feel confident in knowing you’ll get high-quality weed every time. Their buds are always fresh, vibrant, and smell incredible. You can count on them to stock the best stuff for you to enjoy.
Medical dispensaries are always an option, too. Since these shops have to jump through numerous complicated hoops for licensing and obtaining certification from their sources, you know the products they sell will be good.
At the same time, you’ll have to go through the process and expense ($50 plus your consultation fee) of getting a medical card.
With only a few medical dispensaries selling weed in NYC, and New York recreational weed sales on the horizon, it might not be worth it to go through the effort of getting a medical card.
You’ll often find the price of quality weed in recreational shops to be a much better deal, and less of a hassle to obtain.
Did you know you also have the option to have weed in NYC delivered to your door? You’ll want to do your research before placing an order, though.
Some delivery services aren’t as reliable as others. Read reviews, ask friends for advice, or see if your favorite shop offers delivery.
When you know where to buy weed in NYC, you’ll have better luck with delivery, too.
Gifted BK’s delivery service is one of the smoothest, most efficient ones around. Here’s a pro tip to remember: whether you go with Gifted or another dispensary, call ahead to confirm your order first.
When choosing where to buy weed in NYC, go with shops that follow all guidelines essential for state compliance. That keeps them safe from potential legal trouble and protects you too.
In today’s world, a shop’s guidelines should also include following and enforcing current Covid safety measures.
For instance, Gifted BK requires staff and customers to wear masks. They also perform temperature checks on anyone coming inside.
What if you aren’t comfortable walking into a shop and don’t want to order delivery?
Don’t worry; many of the best dispensaries, Gifted BK included, offer curbside pickup.
You can order weed in NYC online, and someone will run your order to you outside when you arrive. Even outdoors, they’ll follow Covid safety guidelines to ensure your safety and comfort.
The New York weed market is evolving quickly.
The state may soon be moving to full recreational legalization, which would make it legal to buy weed in dispensaries without gifting.
There isn’t a set timeframe, but the state doesn’t expect sales to begin until 2022 at the earliest.
There have also been some technological developments in the NYC weed industry.
For instance, many shops are creating apps for easier ordering and delivery tracking. You may notice companies are beginning to accept cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin) as an alternative to cash.
Some are even going so far as to sell non-fungible tokens or NFTs (essentially one-of-a-kind digital arts and other collectibles you can trade on the blockchain) and gifting weed with the purchases.
The possession and use of New York weed may be legal, but there are still a lot of things you must keep in mind to know where to buy weed in NYC.
There are limits to how much NYC marijuana you can have at a time, and you can only use it where it’s legal to smoke cigarettes.
To buy weed, NYC residents and visitors need to follow the rules of the gifting system.
Knowing how and where to buy weed in NYC is critical. By following this guide, you can enjoy the highest quality New York recreational weed safely and legally.