Your first visit to an NYC dispensary.

Your pre-visit checklist

Tick these off before you leave. Your progress saves on this device.

What happens at the door

Every licensed shop checks ID before a sale. Expect a front desk where staff look at or scan your ID. It has to be valid and not expired. A New York license or non-driver ID, another state's license, a passport, IDNYC or a military ID all work.

Adults 21 and older can buy adult-use cannabis. Medical patients buy through New York's medical program.

How the menu works

Menus are split by product type: flower, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, drinks, tinctures and topicals. See products explained for each one.

Flower is sold by weight. These are the sizes you will see:

Edibles are sold by milligrams of THC. In New York an edible can hold at most 10 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg per package.

Talking to the budtender

The person behind the counter is called a budtender. Tell them it is your first visit, what kind of experience you are after and how you plan to use it. Ask about price per gram, what just came in and what other customers buy again.

Budtenders are not doctors. If you have a health question, ask a doctor.

Paying and taxes

Most shops take cash and debit. Card rules vary, and many shops have an ATM inside. The shelf price is not what you pay. New York adds a 13% tax on adult-use cannabis: 9% for the state and 4% local. There is no sales tax on top.

Ask about first-time customer offers before you pay. Use the tax calculator to see your real total.

After you leave

Keep it in a closed container on the way home. You cannot use cannabis in a car, moving or parked, as a driver or a passenger, and driving impaired is a crime.

City law bans smoking and vaping cannabis anywhere tobacco smoking is banned. That includes parks, beaches, boardwalks, pedestrian plazas, outdoor dining and transit. Use it at home or on private property where the owner allows it.

First visit FAQ