Thanks to voters in 2021, those of us who are 21 and older, living in or visiting New York, can walk into a cannabis dispensary and make a legal cannabis purchase. Cannabis flower, vapes, edibles, beverages, and other products fill shelves and display cases of licensed dispensaries and offer something for everyone.
I visited New York at the end of 2024 for the first time since licensed dispensaries opened for business, and I shopped for cannabis products. I picked up three products from three brands. Here’s what I purchased and consumed as a first-timer in New York’s legal cannabis market.
Brand: Marijuana Farms New York (MFNY)
Product: O2 OG Kush x O2 OG Kush Infused, 1G Pre Roll
Rating: * * * * *
MFNY makes pre-rolls with hand-trimmed whole flower and infuses them with their made-in-house live resin. The single-source cannabis purveyor offers multiple options, but I chose OG Kush because I love OG Kush. At 54% total active cannabinoids, MFNY did not disappoint.
Immediately, I noticed the delicious gassy taste, white smoke, and smoothness as I inhaled. It all made me smile. These pre-rolls are packed tight and they burn evenly. The height of my high took off just before the ½ gram point when my eyes got heavy, shoulders dropped, and my body felt as if it was floating up. I noticed a longer high than usual from that one sesh, allowing me to consume less that morning.
Brand: Kiva
Product: Camino Sours Blackberry Dream “Deep Sleep” Vegan Gummies
Rating: * * * *
Kiva makes Camino edibles using fresh fruit flavors and plant-based terpenes. The Camino Sours Deep Sleep gummies have a trio of cannabinoids in each gummy: 10MG THC, 10MG CBN, 10MG CBD for a total of 30MG. I consumed a whole gummy’s 30MG per dose.
The flavor and texture were nice while chewing, but I had a lingering aftertaste I didn’t love. The impact, nonetheless, was great and felt within 45 minutes of consumption. The dose was perfect for someone like me who has no problem falling asleep but has challenges staying asleep. I slept heavily with zero interruptions. The following morning, I noticed I was happier and flowing through the morning, not pushing through it.
Brand: Flamer New York
Product: Black Afcandy – 4g Flower
Rating: * * * * *
This product is exclusive to Housing Works Cannabis Co. Black Afcandy is an Indica created from Black Diamond x Purple Candy . It’s got 24% THC and is available in four-gram jars.
I really enjoyed smoking this jar. The flavor was sweet, with a hint of pine, and all-white smoke. The nugs were a sticky green, with orange highlights, and an overall easy grind if using an electric grinder. By the half-blunt point, my high was at its height. It was beautiful. Though an Indica, the impact for me was heady. My creativity was heightened. I wished I had another jar.
Veronica Castillo, or the Traveling Cannabis Writer, is a nomadic reporter who covers all things cannabis/ hemp/ plant medicines and who seeks to bring to light the hidden gems in the plant space. She is a member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association. Follow her journey on Instagram: @vee_travelingvegcannawriter and on LinkedIn: @Traveling Cannabis Writer
