We hit licensed stores and legacy Zaza providerswithin a 4.20 mile radius of NYC’s first legal weed stores: Here’s what we found.
Manhattan is home to three legal weed stores, with dozens more set to open on a rolling basis in the coming months. There are also around 40 medical dispensaries throughout the city and state, plus indigenous providers located upstate, and countless traditional market operators serving loyal customers for years.
But there are also thousands of unlicensed stores posing as legal retailers across the city. State officials and many legacy operators agree that these shops threaten the state’s budding legal market, because they mislead customers and flood the city with unregulated, sometimes contaminated, products.
To sort through New York’s sea of strains and brands, we took a bud crawl across the city’s three legal stores, plus a handful of local legacy sellers nearby. Below, we reviewed it all by price, presentation, and quality. Here’s what New York City is smoking in 2023
“Lobo’s Venom OG is an indica-dominant strain that comes in understated but classy packaging. The nugs aren’t large or fluffy, and they have significant stems, which contribute to the weight, but not the smoke. Despite breaking down a bit dry, the smoke and accompanying high were smooth and intense. Despite the doubters who are skeptical of NY’s homegrown crop, I was left impressed that this Venom OG delivered on the mid-20s % THC promise.”
La Bomba didn’t make me drowsy or too relaxed, and it helped me through the yoga flow while keeping me present and focused. La Bomba was the bomb, but sadly, the bonus pre-roll of RiRi I also grabbed from Florist Farms was not as memorable.
“I normally pass on Purple Punch, but this version really impressed me. It was flavorful with berrylicious, astringent grape notes, frosty buds, and good structure. Plus, the moisture, texture, and soothing effects have forever changed my mind on what Purple Punch is capable of. I also appreciate the bag and branding from Fat Nell, a woman-led local brand.”
This flower from High Falls surprised me. It only contains 15% THC with 1% CBD, but only a bowl or two were necessary to achieve a nice creative, work-friendly, or video game focus high. The cheesy, skunky flavor of Cindy-99 came through consistently, with nice buds that were forgivably dry, considering the treasured old school buzz.
Amelia Williams
Hudson Cannabis Papa Smurf
Price: $8.85 per .5 gram
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4.5/5)
Rating New York City’s legacy cannabis products
From gift shops to private clubs, we smoked 12 legacy strains to see what the tried and true pioneers of New York cannabis have to offer.
Golden Haze by LIZM
Price: $50 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
After smoking LIZM’s Haze, I’d have to agree that they’re officially bringing classic Haze back. The product was frosty, funky, and fire. The lime-green buds had that light parmesan aroma, and sticky, almost choppy-looking buds that make Haze haze. I tried to make this pack last as long as I could, because I needed so little to get me into a fun headspace for hanging with friends, running errands, or playing my farming simulation computer games. The euphoria is there, the goofiness is there, the little headrush was most welcome. This is my #1 pick out of all the New York flower I’ve enjoyed so far.
Amelia Williams
OG Haze from 770 Monster
Price: $40 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥💨 (4/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4.5/5)
Dex Lauper by Purp Invaders
Price: $50 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4.5/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥💨 (4/5)
The middle finger bag’s strain is Dex Lauper, a stoney hybrid that still allows you to function while floating. The bag had a nice gassy nose even after months of sitting in The Smoker’s Club historic catalog. The high was good for playing video games and watching videos or a movie. But definitely not a social weed smoke for me.
Amelia Williams
Grand Slam OG by The Smoker’s Club (pictured above)
Price: $50 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
Madison Square GUMBO by FlyTrap
GUMBO by FlyTrap
Price: $50 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥💨 (4.5/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥💨 (4/5)
The Spike Lee GUMBO pack we got our hands on had that exotic spice that’s makes GUMBO one of the most mysterious but sought after strains nationwide. Soft to the touch, easy to break down, endlessly flavorful, GUMBO’s name will continue to ring on the legacy and gray markets as New Yorkers wait to buy licensed GUMBO packs from Cookies, and GUMBO co-founders Luka Brazi and Alex Major.
The buds are fluffy to the touch, but this strong purple flower hits hard from the first pull, and carries an intense high that will put you out for the count if you’re not a heavyweight. Named and branded by Harlem legend Jim Jones, this strong pack is sure to make noise in 2023 as more New Yorkers get their hands on it, and as High Tolerance finds ways to get it into licensed stores.
City Gold has a subdued brand identity, but the weed speaks volumes! The Gusherz comes with that piney, diesel smell, plus hints of fruit and dark purple buds. The taste was sharp, even after a week. Good density. Smoked flavorful and stony.
Amelia Williams
Tropicana Cookies by New Amsterdam
Price: $50 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4.5/5)
Legacy growers from the New Amsterdam team are growing some of the freshest most delicious buds around, and waiting patiently to join the licensed market. These buds smell incredible, and smoke great in the morning leaving a strong orange aftertaste and mind-clearing buzz. After years of perfecting the cultivation and distribution side of NYC’s underground market, New Amsterdam is poised to elevate the licensed market for years to come.
Calvin Stovall
Gorilla Glue #4 by Nature Always Wins
Price: $50 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥💨 (4/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (4.5/5)
Green Eggs & Ham from Conchiss
Price: $45 per eighth
Presentation: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
Quality: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 (5/5)
I was told this came from an elite Massachusetts grower named Conchiss with strong connections in NYC. It’s by far the freshest and stickiest bud on this list, a clear mark of expert curing and peak freshness. Incredible for daytime relaxation, and suitable for nighttime creativity–I look forward to the day when this level of smoke is available in all New York stores.
Gastro Pop by Compound Genetics debuted in late 2022 as one of many modern reboots bringing classic gas into the new age of exotic dessert strains. This legacy-grown strain of Gas Cream Cake hits all the same notes as Gastro Pop, giving both OG and new age smokers a common ground to get high on.
Calvin Stovall
Dan Reagans and Tash Patwary contributed to this article.