In a matter of months, smoke shops have sprouted all over New York, most often in a fun, marketing-driven vibe typical of the Big Apple.
In the heart of Manhattan, one shop brands itself as the largest in the world with about 2,000 items for sale. It offers everything that contains cannabis, whether for medical or recreational use.
“Legalization has allowed for more variety and originality in products… Everyone could shine in their own way. And that’s the essential: because when it’s illegal, you fear—fear of going to prison, fear of paying a fine. But when it’s legal, you are free to express yourself openly and to become creative,” explains Swar Atir, the shop’s director.
Gum, balm, smoking herb, bongs and games of all kinds… For customers aged 21 and over, orders can be placed online, or via a server, just like at a fast-food restaurant:
The positives highlighted by consumers: the products on sale are of higher quality, and above all, there is no longer any need to hide, neither to buy nor to smoke: “It’s become easily accessible. There’s no longer a need to seek out a shady dealer or approach people you might not trust and that you’d meet for the first time. Instead, you can simply walk into a shop like this.”
But not all New Yorkers, even those who use, view legalization in such a positive light. For Christopher Varvaro, a customer, it’s even a serious mistake that harms the city’s image, where now the scent of Marijuana lingers everywhere. For him, the worst is yet to come: “There are places where it has been legalized for a long time, like Oregon, California or Colorado, and people are fleeing the cities very quickly, because drugs are everywhere. It starts with one drug, but then there is an escalation. Because when you can access a drug, you end up wanting another.”
Others are also worried about the effects on tourism, in this city that welcomes 65 million visitors each year, and where it is no longer rare to see a drug addict wandering through Times Square.
