Good question! With so many parts of the US decriminalising and legalising cannabis in recent years, it can be hard to keep up. To keep things short, the answer is yes! It is legal to use and possess cannabis in NYC under certain conditions. To make sure you don’t fall foul of any legal loopholes or grey areas, we’re going to shine a light on all of the caveats to this news in a quick explainer article.
Is cannabis legal in New York?
Yes, cannabis is legal in New York as of 2022. That means if you want to smoke or eat edible cannabis, you can do so just as legally as you’ve always been able to consume our pure Londonderry CBD products. Good news indeed for anyone who wants to be able to experience the full spectrum of health and wellness benefits that cannabis can provide. And if you want to top things up with a well-known, highly characterised potency level of CBD, we’re the only people you’ll ever need to talk to.
The only caveat to add here is that there are a small number of restrictions to this announcement that you really need to be made aware of. To make sure you don’t miss out and get tripped up when abroad on what should be a dream holiday, here’s everything you need to know.
Is medical cannabis legal in New York?
Yes, medical cannabis has been legal for use since all the way back in 2016. It has always had to be prescribed by a doctor or licensed dispenser and was most common in people with high levels of anxiety or chronic pain. In fact, thanks to the rise of brands like our British CBD brand, you can quickly and easily access fully tested products that are legal not just in New York, but all over the world, if you want to address these common issues. Ideal when you want to make sure that you have everything you need to look and feel your best when that’s all that matters.
How old do you have to be to legally use cannabis in New York
Just like alcohol, the age threshold is set at 21. This may seem old if you’re coming from the UK but it’s really important to abide by the local laws and customs. They have already made it legal to use, so if you find that you’re 19 and don’t want to accept those rules, you’re really taking an unnecessary risk. If in doubt, play it safe, follow the local rules, and don’t let a simple mistake ruin what should be the holiday of a lifetime.
It’s also worth noting that it’s still an offence to smoke or use cannabis in any form if someone 21 or older buys it for you. Just like you can’t get an adult to buy you cigarettes and alcohol if you’re underage in the UK, you can’t get someone old enough to buy you cannabis in NYC. It’s a simple rule to stick to and we strongly recommend always following the local rules, no matter how strongly you may feel about the health benefits of cannabis. After all, if it’s health and wellness you care about most, you can quickly and easily access our entire range of CBD products without any risk of falling foul of age restrictions when on holiday in New York City.
How much cannabis can you legally possess in New York?
The change in the law was predicated on the idea that cannabis use had to be of a personal nature. That means while you can smoke it, buy it and sell small portions of it, you can’t suddenly attempt to resupply the whole city. As you’ll probably remember from a few of our previous articles, this isn’t being done to try and make your life more difficult — it’s being done to ensure a pure and transparent supply of product. If one massive name was able to enter the market with no checks and balances being undertaken, it would be a recipe for disaster from a regulation point of view.
The law states that you can have no more than three ounces of cannabis on your person at any one time. This is seen as more than enough for a high degree of personal use, but still small enough to prevent any significant dealing of an illicit nature going on. This means that as long as you stay below this threshold, you’re not going to have a problem. For those of you who rely on cannabis for stress and pain relief and don’t want to risk running out, our range of British CBD products are a fantastic alternative. They have no THC, none of the side effects or downsides of cannabis, and they’re completely legal in all forms, uses and quantities. Perfect when you want the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have everything taken care of. And if you have a liking for the more concentrated variety, you can have up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis on you for personal use anywhere in New York.
Where can you legally buy cannabis in New York?
If in doubt, head to a registered pharmacy or cannabis dispensary. This will ensure you get the pure and unadulterated product you’re looking for, as well as the reassurance that comes from knowing what you’re ingesting has been certified and tested to the highest possible standards. It’s the same approach we take when it’s time to launch our Londonderry CBD products to a new audience, and it’s exactly the approach we strongly recommend to anyone travelling, whether it’s for work or pleasure.
Are there restrictions on how you can drive with cannabis in your system in New York?
Alcohol is legal to consume in New York and yet no one would argue that it would be good if they legalised drink driving. When you’re drunk your reactions and response times are impaired, making you a serious danger and liability if you’re behind the wheel of a car in a built-up area. While the side effects of medium to heavy cannabis use are rather different to drinking too much alcohol, it’s still not safe for you to get behind the wheel of a car. For this reason, and this reason alone, drug driving involving cannabis remains illegal in New York and it’s virtually certain that it always will. No one is trying to spoil your fun or exercise control when they should be entitled too — it’s about keeping other road users and pedestrians as safe as possible at all times.
If you find that you want to have the relaxing hit, or touch of pain relief, that cannabis gives you, our third party tested CBD products from the UK are a great option to consider. They won’t contain any of the psychoactive THC that’s responsible for impairing your reactions and responses so you’re unfit to drive.
What’s next? Take a moment to share this article with any friends or family you’re travelling to New York with so they know what to expect when they get there. After all, the more you know now, the more fun you’ll be able to have once you get to your destination.
Back to Blog