It has been about 3 years since they legalized weed in NY state. I've been shopping some nice dispensaries at First American (native American) shops. It took the state a while for them to get licenses out to people in our area. So the First American shops were the first to open. On top of that, the prices on reservation are just incredible if you shop around.
With that said, a lot of dispensaries began popping up in the local area. Licenses are being issued and the state has promised to issue more. Compared to First American shops prices are crazy.
I haven't shopped on the street for several years now so I have no idea what street prices are going for right now in my area. The NY licensed dispensary was about the same as street prices though from a few years back. $10 grams well .70 so not quite a gram. Ounces around I think he said $240 and up depending on the strain.
At many First American shops you can find ounces of shake in the $20 range, mid-grades starting around $30 or $40 an ounce. Then some serious rockstar stuff for anything over $100. HUGE DIFFERENCE.
My favorite reservation is almost 2 hours away. So it would be nice to have a local dispensary to shop at. After driving past a local spot for the last year, I finally decided to stop in and see what they had to offer. Like I said, the prices to me are crazy, but the convenience is still nice. They also had no shortage of business. While I shopped around several people came and went.
I told the budtender that it was my first trip to a state licensed dispensary and he welcomed me with a smile and began giving me the lowdown on all they had to offer. Hash was around $45 a gram. That's insane. He assured me they had the best prices locally though.
I passed on the hash, and the budtender gave me some space taking care of other customers while I perused their goods. After about 20 minutes I decided on a dime bag $10. Considering the prices I just wanted to test out the product. I picked out an indica, sorry forgot the name, but unfortunately they were out of stock. So I ended up selecting a Burnt Orange hybrid.
The Budtender took my money, and then rings up a receipt on the cash register. He takes the receipt and slips it into a metal door attached to a massive vault behind the register. It's like a revolving door about 12 x 18 inches. A minute later, the door spins back around with a tiny pouch of product.
"Brilliant" I mutter and the budtender laughs then replies, "Security first" with a devious smile. Sorry, no pictures allowed inside the shop.
So I love the packaging. .7 of a gram though. I mean it's really a little over a half gram if were rounding down. ☹️ 27% THC is a respectable potency. That's one of the things I liked about the licensed dispensary compared to my favorite First American shop. Each product had potency listed. My favorite First American shop knows all the potencies, but you have to ask, they're not listed on the labels or packaging. So yeah, great packaging.
So the image came out a little blurry, sorry about that. On a final note about the packaging, you have to cut it open with scissors and there really isn't anyway to reseal it. That's kind of a bummer. I really don't want to smoke the whole thing in one sitting, would be nice to be able to reseal it to keep that freshness.
The product itself was very nice though. You can't tell by the picture but it's nice and sticky with lots of trichomes that are visible to the naked eye. Color is a bright green, with hashy orange veins running through it. Smell is dank and crisp with hints of citrus.
Unfortunately, I'm just getting over a bout of Covid so my taste and smeller are little off. It did have a nice fragrant taste though a little on the skunky side with a musty aftertaste that was quite pleasant.
If I were to buy this at a First American shop, I'd suspect I could find a similar product in the $100 an ounce range. Still, having access to this locally is nice in a pinch.
Final Thoughts
Prices would have to come way down for me to shop here regularly. However, in a pinch or just wanting to switch things up with something locally, I'd shop here again.
I was happy to see other customers too. I know some of the local dispensaries are crying that business is a little slow. Between the taxes and prices, they're having a hard time competing with the street, so I'm guessing street prices must have come down a bit.
Still, I like the security and choices available at the licensed dispensaries and First American shops. I'll never shop on the street again. I think taxes are around 13% at the licensed dispensary and it's baked into the price. They did have some impressive looking 1/8 ounces starting at $20. 1 gram pre-rolls for $10. Again, seemed expensive to me, probably a better deal than what I got, but I like the quality of what I purchased too. Maybe next time, I'll try a pre-roll.
With all that said, I'm glad the local dispensaries are finally popping up all over the place. I'd love to see better prices, but at least the convenience and quality are there. I'll definitely shop local again. The entire experience was quite enjoyable.
Here in Colorado I pay roughly $90/ ounce for good weed..
150 over here for the basic shit....DAMN
That's still not bad though. Before they legalized you could get commercial for around $80 an ounce and the good stuff was usually $300 plus. Prices came down considerably since they legalized.
I can only envy you guys across the pond.
I hope prices come down here as well. I can get really good weed for $100 and up at First American shops, and decent mid-grades for $30 an ounce and up... That's just insane to me. That's how prices should be though once it's legalized IMHO.
The state licensed dispensaries need to come way down in price. I have no issue paying $100 an ounce for good weed. Again, once it's legalized, the price should come way down. Like everything in New York state I think they take advantage with "sin" taxes. Which keeps the prices of everything high, and also promotes the "illegal market" because it's cheaper.
At least that's how it seems to be currently working out in NY. Sooner or later I'll be taking the dual-sport up that way for some rides through the Rockies. I'll definitely stop at some local dispensaries in your state.
Oh they fuck us on taxes here too.. 22ish%
Wow! Now I'm curious... Just Googled it.
A potency tax... LMFAO, only in NY. Anyway, hopefully we see Colorado prices soon. I suppose supply and demand still dictate price and a lot of people are starting to set up shop. That could bring the price down. Competition usually does.
Then I just couldn't leave it alone, so I had to find out what the potency tax really was because my screenshot didn't say.
Source: https://www.tax.ny.gov/bus/auc/
Effective for sales on and after June 1, 2024, the total THC-based (potency) tax rates on adult-use cannabis products have been replaced with a tax rate of 9%. This new rate is imposed on the amount charged for the sale or transfer of adult-use cannabis products by a distributor to a retailer.
So about the same. here. 9% from the distributor, 13% from the consumer. Both taxes are passed on to the consumer regardless SMH. Fucked as well brother! That's a lot of tax SMH
The taxes are cheaper than the fines.. and less painful than jail time
Truer words have never been spoken.
On a side note, some would consider that extortion... Just sayin...😂🤣
I’m in NY too. Taxes way 2 much indeed!
Yeah, It's a little ridiculous.
Facts! !PIMP
Tremendous.
thank you.
It does seem a little crazy to us that you have legal weed over there. I assume there's a tax on it so the government takes a share. I guess you get some guarantee of quality this way. What is the age limit? It is good if it disrupts the criminal drug trade.
Steeve, come to West Midlands and we'll have a SMOKE OUT
I don't smoke, but you can enjoy.
Bro, me too. I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime.
It's a state tax because federally it's a gray area and still not 100% legal. We have states rights, but federal law generally supersedes state law. Regardless, I believe the state takes in about 13%. They originally wanted more, but nobody would buy it. 🤣
This is one of the things that I love about state licensed dispensaries. There is actually too much quality control. It also adds to the cost. But yes, you have a guarantee of good healthy clean organically grown marijuana. Notice the hermetically sealed packet. It's actually an issue, because the state went a little overboard with quality control, but very good for the consumer and the cost is carried over to the consumer as well.
Just like alcohol, 21 and over. I'm pretty sure there's a severe penalty for anyone caught supplying minors as there should be.
I agree. That's still around, but at least the marijuana side of it is cleaned up a bit. I think once it's federally 100% legal and not just decriminalized, they could really clean up the industry. I'm honestly surprised both sides didn't take this issue up in the election. The states have spoken and I believe there are more legal states than not now. I can't imagine what's holding them up federally.
Ive heard great things about the reservation shops in Canada, not only are they cheaper, but the product is great. However that is good to see more shops are opening up for you all. I imagine not everyone can go to a res shop as easy as some?
I swear by the reservation shops in NY. Great products and incredible prices.
Depends on the reservation too. Some of the reservation elders don't want the marijuana trade on their reservations. There's another reservation about a half hour away but the elders are dead set against it, so I rarely shop there.
There are really large and several First American communities throughout NY state. If you have a car or motorcycle I think reservation weed is accessible to most of the state. Without a vehicle though, your stuck shopping at state licensed dispensaries which are actually really nice but a little on the expensive side IMHO.