When New York legalized recreational cannabis people from all sides grew excited for the tourism potential. One hopeful company built an immersive cannabis experience called The House of Cannabis NYC (THC NYC). This space took up a large footprint in Lower Manhattan. The space opened on 4/20 in 2023, promising those who smoke weed as much entertainment as those who don’t. It also served as a cannabis museum that promised to honor the trivialized struggle of advocates who built the industry.
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THC NYC doubled as an event venue, hosting the Luis De Javier Fashion Week afterparty and other artistic events. The space even opened Union Square Travel Agency kiosks in the space, which triggered a delivery within an hour of ordering. Things were stacking up to make THC NYC a preeminent pillar of New York weed tourism. Unfortunately, TimeOut reports that the venue has quietly shuttered.
There is a “for lease” sign out front, even though the THC NYC branding remains on the windows. The Instagram account is unavailable, and Yelpers reported the site as closed. A representative of THC NYC declined to comment on the closure. The somewhat abrupt ending for a New York City cannabis museum may feel like the end of artistic weed culture, but other endeavors quash that worry.
NYC cannabis art galleries persist
Gotham, a New York cannabis dispensary chain, opened its fourth location in Chelsea at the top of the month. The store is bringing art into the weed fold organically by serving as the first dedicated exhibition space within a cannabis retail environment. While one cannabis museum door has closed, perhaps a more organic marriage of art and American weed is blossoming.
“Chelsea has always been the beating heart of New York’s art scene, and we’re planting our flag right in the middle of it,” Joanne Wilson, founder of Gotham, said in a press release.
Visitors will enter the retail space filled with cannabis products and lifestyle goods before walking a long, art-lined corridor that ends in an 805-square-foot exhibition area. This space is designed for group shows, solo exhibitions, and unique activations. It can also be reserved for private events.
The Gotham Gallery will debut with “The World is Yours,” opening on April 19th. This exhibition is a collaboration between American rapper Nas and Object Are By. Visit to view never-before-seen photographs that Wu-Tang Productions creative director Danny Hastings took of Nas in 1994. Limited edition homeware and apparel will be sold exclusively at Gotham during the show’s run.
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Gotham Gallery hopes to assist less-recognized artists as they make their name. “Editions” is coming to Gotham Gallery in Fall 2025. The series of artist-designed merchandise and cannabis accessories will help bolster income for emerging artists who have shown at the space.
West Coast weed art on display
On the other coast, the San Francisco Space Walk showcases various ways weed culture merges with creation. Those in the Bay Area can witness the artistry of the trap with the return of “Get to the Bag.” The mylar bag art show at Mirus Gallery in SoMa features square after square of cheeky, engaging designs.
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Space Walk also hosted the opening of “Keep Glowing,” a selection of vintage blacklight posters selected from the Haight Street Art Center collection. The series depicts an array of cannabis themes, like a pack of joints and psychedelic writing that says “GRASS.”
The end of one grandiose museum does not mark the death of weed art. THC NYC may have closed its doors, but artistic stoners from coast to coast are showcasing how creativity meets cannabis. From Gotham Gallery to SF Space Walk, those looking for beauty will always find it.
