Is weed legal in New York? The answer depends on your situation and state’s laws. Medical marijuana is legal in New York only for registered patients.
Those who wish to access cannabis from approved dispensaries are required to obtain a medical marijuana identification card. To become eligible, patients must contact a registered practitioner with the New York Department of Health. They must be a New York resident or temporarily residing in the state for medical treatment.
Weed Shops
While marijuana has been legal in New York for nearly four decades, a number of shady operators have continued to operate under the radar. Some unlicensed operations have been known to carry residual spider mites, putting public health at risk. State legislators have proposed legislation to close these loopholes.
Meanwhile, longtime dealers, as well as consumers, are navigating the gray market’s complex rules. The Brooklyn-based cannabis delivery service, Beau, has noticed a drop in sales since the beginning of the year.
While the state government has made great strides in decriminalizing the use and distribution of marijuana, the NYPD appears to have been slow to crack down on illegal sales of marijuana. In the last three months of 2021, police made just seven marijuana arrests and issued eight summonses.
But the recent crackdown has prompted one weed shop owner to suspend operations. Moreover, it is unclear whether or not more businesses will open in the near future.
Consumption spots
Supervised consumption sites have been the subject of a heated debate in New York City, with elected officials and residents opposing their establishment. But the concept shows promise and is something the city hopes to replicate elsewhere.
A reporter recently spent four days visiting two supervised consumption sites in the city, speaking with drug users, city officials, neighbors, and critics. She also visited the offices of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who opened the sites in October.
Grey market entrepreneurs
While some people have called for the outlawing of marijuana sales in New York, others see it as a golden opportunity for a growing industry. The New York State Office of Cannabis Management is not happy about the gray market, but a draconian crackdown on cannabis would be an unpopular measure.
The state’s police department isn’t interested in getting involved – a spokesperson for the department did not respond to questions.
The emergence of the grey market has drawn parallels to the “Roaring Twenties” after Prohibition. In the New York borough of Canarsie, the “Green Truck” – a fleet of six repurposed buses that sell weed to patients — often referred to as Uncle Budd — is a prime example.
The Green Truck is operated by Jimmy, who also works for PrestoDoctor, a company that arranges medical marijuana recommendations. He grew up selling marijuana and was arrested for it.
