In Rochester and throughout New York state, medical-use and recreational-use cannabis consumption are legal. In 2014, medical-use cannabis became legal for patients with qualifying conditions – thanks to the passage of the Compassionate Care Act, or S7923. It took a little bit longer for adult-use marijuana to become legal in the state. The passage of the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), or S854-A, in March 2021 made adult-use cannabis legal in New York. Adults 21 and over can purchase, possess, and transport marijuana within the state.
New York medical cannabis dispensaries and delivery are legal and available, but adult-use cannabis dispensaries and delivery are not yet available. However, adult-use dispensaries will open by the end of 2022, after the New York state government issued Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses. While it's not a certainty, there's a good chance that adult-use delivery will come soon.
While adult-use delivery is not yet available in New York state, qualified patients can get medical cannabis delivery throughout Rochester. Delivery services can deliver to neighborhoods like:
Park Avenue
Homestead Heights
Cobbs Hill
Browncroft
Corn Hill
Ellwanger-Barry
Culver-Winton
East Avenue
Swillburg
Highland Park
Neighborhood of the Arts
There's bad news for those looking for adult-use weed delivery in Rochester – it's not currently available. Now, adult-use cannabis is legal, but the state is still working to legalize delivery. Therefore, only qualified medical marijuana patients can receive medical cannabis deliveries in the Rochester area. New York state does not offer reciprocity for medical marijuana patients, so patients must have a New York state medical marijuana card to be eligible for delivery.
Yes, Rochester weed delivery is available – but only for qualified medical marijuana patients. Because adult-use cannabis recently became legal, the government is still working to make delivery legal in the state.
Since medical marijuana is the only option for delivery, the amount you can order will depend on both New York state law and your medical professional's prescription. According to state law, patients may have up to a 60-day supply of approved cannabis product, subject to any extra restrictions from the prescriber. Patients and their designated caregivers must have their medical registry ID cards on hand when purchasing or possessing medical marijuana.
New York state laws govern the locations where consumers may use cannabis and where it's prohibited. Mostly, adults may consume cannabis products in the same places where smoking tobacco products is legal under the state's smoke-free air laws. Cannabis consumption cannot occur in motor vehicles, regardless if the vehicle is parked or moving. It's also illegal to smoke in outdoor dining areas at restaurants. Consuming cannabis in these prohibited areas may result in civil summons and/or fines.
There are many different types of cannabis products you can purchase for medical delivery. From edibles to flower and oils to tinctures, each delivery service will carry their own selection. Simply browse through a delivery service's menu to see what products they offer.
If you're not present at the delivery address, there's a very good chance you won't receive your delivery. This is because the delivery driver needs to confirm that you have the necessary identification – a valid ID and your New York state medical marijuana registry card. In addition, once they confirm your identification, they'll also collect your payment for the weed delivery. Should you not be at the delivery address, your delivery driver will not leave your delivery.
Yes, weed delivery is safe and discreet. Delivery services must be registered with New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and provide licensed products. Meeting a weed delivery driver is the same as meeting any other delivery driver, so take the same precautions you'd utilize for any other type of delivery.
In New York, keep in mind that the vast majority of dispensaries are for medical marijuana patients. While adult-use cannabis dispensaries are coming, they're not yet available. Some Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries may be open by the end of 2022. For now, you'll need to be a registered patient to visit a medical marijuana dispensary. To find a medical marijuana dispensary location near you, check out the Rochester dispensary page.
