While the shop isn't open just yet, it's the latest weed-friendly storefront to open in the East Village (and NYC) in recent months. (And we haven't mentioned the new one now on the NW corner of First Avenue and 10th Street.)
Of course, none of these operations are legal just yet.
As Emily Stewart wrote in a piece for Vox last week titled "New York seems to have a weed store on every corner. None of them are legal.":
New York City’s crisp autumn air has a distinct scent to it, and this year that scent is weed. Many of the city streets have a fresh look to them, too — marijuana and cannabis products are for sale, out in the open, everywhere. New York legalized recreational marijuana in the spring of 2021, but the state is still in the process of doling out licenses to legally sell it, which makes the situation ... confusing.
And...
"None of them are compliant, none of them are allowed," said Aaron Ghitelman, a spokesperson for New York state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), in an interview. "They're jumping the gun."
Meanwhile, as Gothamist reported, nearly 1,000 cannabis entrepreneurs are competing for New York's first 150 dispensary licenses ... "all of which will be reserved for people with past marijuana convictions or their family members."
As for this corner of 11th Street and First Avenue, the last retail tenant was Eleven Consignment Boutique, which closed amid a legal battle in November 2019.
26 comments:
Down, down, down goes civilization. History will have a field day documenting the fall of the USA, and specifically the fall of NYC as a desirable place to live. To give *preference* to convicted criminals in handing out these licenses means our so-called "values" are all wrong.
Funniest thing I heard all day. Nobody is forcing you to stay. Go back to the Red state from which you came. But please, leave your weed for the human beings.
I wonder if there were more smoke shops back in the 80’s, or are there more now.
8:10 might be the wildest EV Grieve comment I've ever seen lol
I read another article which said that all of the stores who don't wind up with licenses will be forced to close, and that the opportunist proprietors are just trying to make as much money as possible before the hammer comes down and they are forced to shutter. We can only hope.
Oh, no, if people in NYC are starting to smoke weed surely it means the end is nigh!
(You seem to have gotten lost, 8:10. The 50s are thataway.)
I'm conflicted on this topic.
On one hand, I am myself a smoker, though I do not like how ubiquitous this is becoming. One, it takes the illegal thrill out of it, and two, there's a great deal of crap out there pretending to be decent product. And the prices are skyrocketing, even for poor quality. Of course, NYC waited forever, and the delivery and unveiling is less than what is should/could have been.
Also, you neglected to mention that this is actually the second weed shop on the SAME CORNER. Look at 11th St: Not only did the new management company turn the tiny room (formerly the superintendent's "masterbatorium") between 400 and 402 into a smoke shop, but this newer place looks to be sort of a smoking lounge. How's that going to play out, especially with the Stalter party condos on First Ave?
Rumor had it that there was some sort of inheritance fight over this corner and one family member forced a court-ruled third-party situation of a new management co. because all possible channels to obtain rent for available spaces had not yet been squeezed and he/she wanted a greater ROI. No confirmation on that (so it could be utter BS), but that might help to explain why there are now TWO weed shops (which may indeed be the same owner?) on this corner where, you know, every door dasher and grub hubber hangs out. In general, I think it makes the city look tawdry and cheap and OUT OF IDEAS. The caravan is too full people.
Good reviews instead for Sweettooth, the NEW pot candy/edible store on 10th b/w First and Second. Nice people, good CA product, awesome samples. At least it looks like something different that just another smoke shop.
WOW!! Downfall of the USA because people are smoking pot?? Seems a bit naive I feel!💨💨💨😶🌫️
I for one am overjoyed at the recent proliferation of 'dispensaries' everywhere. All of the esmoke and bong shops finally have a reason to exist. I think we have finally found the balance we need! Hopefully we can get some kind of outdoor shed program running so that we can have a place for all these tourists to smoke up while they are here. It brings a tear to my eye every time I see an outdoor dining area being dismantled. I want to live in 2020 forever!
10:20 appreciate the thoughtful comments and neighborhood predatory real estate developer update. Have to admit as a long term pot head, I do wonder what the implications are for the weed that is sold these days. It is so much stronger than nearly everything I smoked until the last decade I have to wonder about the long term effects.
9:38 Definitely many more weed shops now than the 70/80s. Even more tables of product available in Washington Square Park on weekends than there ever were dealers at the nw corner.
@9:13am: Funny that you imagine people who are in favor of being sober and sane would be red-state people! Particularly funny to people like me who are born in NYC lifelong New Yorkers. WE are the people who get to have very strong opinions, b/c we've been here a hella long time and have seen all this shit going on for ages. You think it's new? Nope.
And if you think these pot shops represent some new enlightened society, IMO, you're deluded.
@9:46AM: LOL, you desperately need to get out more often if that's truly the wildest thing you've ever read on here.
Do they have a pumpkin spice blunt?
And don't forget about the mobile shops(trucks) like the one that is often parked on the corner of Ave A And Ninth in the evenings. I can't figure out what the government is thinking now. A serious part of their thinking was tax revenue. Imagine how much revenue is being lost every day with these multitudes of illegal operations!
12:06 pm: Staten Island doesn't count as part of NYC for these purposes, you know.
I sure do hope so. No need for this many shops, where majority are empty.
And not a single cent of these sales have any tax revenue because this city could not get its shit together. At this point they just need to give them all licenses and just start collecting money. With that being said, my delivery guy has and always been cheaper and better than anything that can be purchased in any store
I have several tickets in the 1980s for drinking in public, please point me to the reserved line for liquor licenses for those with prior convictions.
These places are much better than bars. With weed and bongs people can go home after their purchase and quietly crawl into their own heads. In fact, that’s why I came to NYC! Much better than noisy people meeting in bars, talking, laughing, and then whatever else they might end up doing.
"Of course, none of these operations are legal just yet."
Lifelong resident. The city has no control over anything, whether pot sales, crazy people, robberies, unlicensed motorcycles, etc. Worse than the 1970's.
@7:43PM: That's genuinely the entire reason you came to live in NYC?
Must be getting old as I remember sweet tooth ,Spice it up and we deliver
hey i am in the revolutionary cannabis task force....the traditional market will never be shut down despite the corporatocracy and taxation....
i feel we should step on the toes of the corporatocracy and undercut them blatantly...i say we should not have the cannabis tax....
taxation is extortion
I like this place. They're professional and friendly in there and have a large selection, something for everyone who is interested. Back in the 80s/90s there was a guy named Tony who would stand all day on the NE corner of St. Marks/1st Ave and that was our "dispensary". He was very nice but if you smiled or joked with Tony during your purchase, his jealous girlfriend was nearby ready to punch you out. They don't do that at this store.
These illegal dispensaries are paying big rent. And the signs are not cheap. They might be illegal but they obviously seem confident they'll remain in business.
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