Postcards from NYC
NY pizza rules! And everything I ate
Hello from New York City! Where leaves are changing into their fall colors and the brisk autumn air (and ripe garbage scent) stings your lungs. I popped over to the east coast to check out the newly legal-ish cannabis scene and attended Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC), a b2b show that connects cannabis wellness, beauty, food and beverage brands to retailers, media, and investors. There were lots of familiar friendly faces including Drew Martin, Kiva, Stone Road, Leune, and Cann plus many new ones that caught my attention including oHHo, Hudson Cannabis (formerly Hudson Hemp), Black Dahlia, Sass, Cycling Frog, Walala (a Japanese CBD skincare line from Tokyo), Stella Via, and Chef Hawaii’s Chef for Higher.
Vol. 9 // In This Issue:
NYC weed takeaways
Does air travel affect flower?
Munchies Mukbang: everything I ate in NYC
Although there are no legal dispensaries open yet, there are plenty of ilicit cannabis shops, products and bodega weed to be found. I walked into a cozily decorated cannabis members club that insists it’s not a dispensary, rather it’s a concierge service “dedicated to helping its members find the highest end cannabis products.” There was a diverse clientele in the waiting room from all ages and colors of the rainbow. 60% of the people coming and going on a Saturday afternoon were women aged 40 and over.
“We have set up a membership service in which the club will acquire cannabis products for its members and only add to the cost to facilitate the acquisition and transfer of said products.”
How is this legal you ask? Ehhhh it’s a murky gray area as state officials work to create an infrastructure and regulations to support opening legal, licensed cannabis dispensaries. What are they selling? California cannabis products sporting the CA THC warning label. Captain Obvious wonders how all this illicit California product is making its way to NYC. But I’m here for the pizza and bagels.
Top takeaways from my brief time in NYC:
The first NYC dispensary will open by the end of the year. At least that’s what Tremaine Wright, chair of New York’s Cannabis Control Board said at the LMCC show.
Excitement is in the air as legalization start to take shape and brands are finding their foothold in the Big Apple, one way or another.
Scarred and jaded California brands and operators clearly have PTSD as they look to greener pastures and focus efforts on expansion outside the oversaturated, grueling California cannabis market. Is NY the mecca they’re looking for?
As New York’s market grows, it will change the look and feel of cannabis from stoner bro aesthetic to more upscale, luxurious branding and packaging.
You’re allowed to freely smoke weed anywhere smoking is allowed – sidewalk, public spaces, etc. Finding a quiet spot to enjoy your j in peace is another story. Wow, this city is loud, or am I just getting old?
There’s an awful lot of dog poo smeared on the sidewalk. I dropped a j on the sidewalk and probably shouldn’t have put it back into my mouth, but I did. Pray for me.
Jon Capetta from High Times mused on the Twitterverse:
Munchies Mukbang: NYC
A heavenly, chewy yet light as air blueberry bagel lightly toasted with plain cream cheese from Brooklyn Bagel is worth the hype. Down the street one block I inhaled a pumpernickel bagel with lox cream cheese spread from Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish.
I was only sorry I couldn’t eat more on the menu because I was so full after steamed bulgogi buns filled with Korean marinated meat, cheese and caramelized kimchi jam and the crispy pork belly filled Ho’Cake buns from Mokbar at Chelsea Market. One of three restaurant locations from this badass cannabis-embracing Korean chef Esther Choi who was on Viceland’s “Bong Appetit,” a host of “Chopped 420,” and has a brand of hemp CBD infused sesame oil called Sessy. It’s worth pushing through the tourists at Chelsea Market for Mokbar and artisanal halva from Seed + Mill.
On Canal Street, hidden-in-plain-sight is NYC's first cannabis cafe and lounge serving CBD infused drinks and baked goods is tucked next to the subway station. There’s Delta-8 prerolls available for sale but I’d skip those and stick to the pastries. I kicked back on the patio to enjoy one of Drew Martin’s botanical prerolls with with a CBD-infused slutty brownie, blue flower iced tea at Cafe Cannal.
I should sit down and eat a real meal at a restaurant, but I love NYC pizza. The line at Prince Street Pizza was stupid-long and I was munchie-ing too hard to wait. This cozy corner spot down the block was much more my speed and a darn good slice of pie. Ordered a slice of pepperoni and cheese from Upside Pizza, a 90s style pizzeria from former Roberta’s pizzanistas. Overheard a woman talking loudly about how drinking in Italy is FUN, whereas drinking and getting drunk in New York is just sad.
Can’t resist the perfect caneles at Dominque Ansel Bakery. It took all my willpower to resist bringing a box of cronuts and DKAs back to my hotel room for a late night snack.
For my next visit, where are your favorite spots to eat in NYC?
COMING UP NEXT SUNDAY:
A Stylish Stoner’s Guide to Halloweed
Spooky cute Halloween ideas
Limited edition seasonal *catnip* products
Scary places to be while high
A witchy weed report
Halloween activities for adults only
Pizza is the world’s most perfect food. I found out after 25 years of friendship that my best friend doesn’t like pizza. Now taking applications for a new best friend… just kidding. Not really. Who doesn’t like pizza?!
Pizza my heart and happy Diwali!
Christina W.