The New York cannabis landscape is constantly changing. In 2021, Albany lawmakers passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), permitting New Yorkers to buy, use, possess, consume, and transport cannabis and its products within the state, with caveats that users must:
New York legal cannabis—including framework and all legal cannabis activities within the state—is regulated by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Cannabis Control Board.
Here are some of the basic things every cannabis-using New Yorker should know.
Following the decriminalization of cannabis in New York, quite a number of unlicensed shops with non-compliant products entered the baby market. Misleading labels, with false claims about quality and ingredients, were disturbingly abundant on vendors’ shelves.
Reports of these sharp practices informed the approved raid on unlicensed shops by Gov. Kathy Hochul, an operation that mainly targeted Manhattan. The crackdown yielded but little success, as unlicensed cannabis sellers are still having a field day in the market, to date. Most concerning is their adverts say they’re licensed, thereby cashing in on unsuspecting buyers’ ignorance.
Before patronizing any acclaimed licensed cannabis store, look out for the “Dispensary Verification Tool,” a consumer protection measure identified by a blue and white sticker, ideally mounted at the store’s entrance. The sticker comes with a QR code that helps cannabis shoppers verify that the shop is on OCM’s list of vetted cannabis dispensaries. If you don’t find it, something isn’t right with the store.
To further verify if your purchase is regulatory-compliant, check the product label for a THC-crested yellow triangle, 21+ red-circled symbol, and the New York State map on a black background.
Tinctures, e-juice, edibles, lotions, buds, and everything cannabis are allowed in cannabis stores. However, only products sourced from cannabis farms within the state are licensed and regulated by the state authorities.
Years after New York legal cannabis laws took effect, local dispensaries are still scarce, as cannabis dispensaries open at a snail’s pace.
One reason for this snail-pace establishment of cannabis dispensaries is that the state reserved the first batches of New York’s legal cannabis licenses to people with a history of cannabis-related convictions, unlike other states where large, well-funded organizations and established medical cannabis brands were first to obtain operation licenses.
Currently, New York seeks $150 million to fund more dispensaries across the state. Pending the realization of this fund, the regulatory body has permitted licensed businesses to start up their private-funded dispensaries for cannabis sales and delivery. In support, New York’s Dormitory Authority, responsible for the legal cannabis program’s real estate, vowed to assist licensees with low-interest loans to expedite setting up individual sites.
People who detest the long drive to cannabis shops, the queues at cannabis shops, and users who wish to keep their cannabis use confidential can opt for home delivery services, which is legal for New Yorkers 21 years and above.
But with the scarcity of cannabis retailers, only a handful of dispensaries deliver cannabis to buyers’ addresses. While we await more delivery stores to open soon, it’s okay to ask your dispensary if they can send over your purchase. You might get a lucky YES.
Taxes on legal cannabis purchases vary from product to product—primarily based on product type and potency. But expect to pay at least 13% on tax when buying cannabis products in New York.
Note that the higher the THC concentration, the higher the tax. For instance, you’ll spend more on tax for cannabis resins and concentrates than on flower.
New Yorkers 21 years or older and with a medical cannabis card can grow cannabis in their homes—but not more than six plants, consisting of three mature and three infant stems.
The 2021 recreational cannabis law permits ANYONE 21 and above to own up to six cannabis plants in residential properties. However, the OCM has yet to regulate non-medical home cultivation; hence, only medical cannabis users can home-grow. Presently, home growing for personal use is unregulated and, thus, prohibited.
Also, some property owners or managers outrightly ban cannabis growing within their premises. Regulators advise Medical patients affected by such regulations to discuss with their adult caregiver to help out.
As the regulators fine-tune the rules and regulations, New York may see cannabis bars soon—just like alcohol bars. Currently, the Cannabis Control Board has yet to establish rules and regulations and issue licenses to legal cannabis bars, hence the delay in the establishment of cannabis lounges.
While the board has drafted a list of regulations for retail facilities for existing dispensaries, New York’s legal cannabis industry awaits comprehensive regulatory provisions and licenses for full-fledged cannabis lounges.
Interested in getting your New York medical cannabis card? Book an appointment with a New York MMJ doctor to see if you qualify!
Getting comfortable with the most common weed weights and measurements can really come in handy when shopping for cannabis products. Gram, eighth, quarter, ounce—there are plenty of ways to measure cannabis, and just as many slang terms to go with them. Ultimately, these cannabis measurements can make shopping for marijuana by weight feel confusing fast….
With more people turning to cannabis for medical relief, many wonder if it’s safe to combine weed with prescription medications like prednisone. Prednisone is a potent corticosteroid that helps combat inflammation and regulate the immune system. Cannabis also has well-documented anti-inflammatory properties, making the idea of combining the two appealing for people managing chronic pain,…
Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. No, these aren’t the lyrics to Eminem’s Lose Yourself. These are classic symptoms of flight anxiety, and if you’re one of the 25 million people in the U.S. who experience them, you’re not alone. Would you like a solution? If so, you’re in the right place because,…
Visiting the doctor can be nerve-wracking. On top of the general anxieties associated with these appointments, the idea of having to disclose cannabis use to a medical team can add another layer of stress to patients. While it may be tempting to leave this aspect of medical history undisclosed, patients should be aware of the…
Sipping on a chilled glass of wine can be a relaxing and luxurious way to unwind. Smoking a joint, on the other hand, is the fastest way to experience relaxation, pain relief, and other benefits from cannabinoids. But what if you could combine both? Enter cannabis wine, the beverage that melds the social ease of…
Sign up for our newsletter
Get your medical marijuana card today
Sign up in under 5 minutes
Start By Selecting Your State
