
Uran Kabashi / Unsplash
Your insider guide to Queens' premier cannabis dispensaries, from community-focused boutiques to premium destinations
Queens has emerged as a cornerstone of New York City’s legal cannabis scene. This diverse borough of approximately 2.3 million residents is home to a growing concentration of licensed dispensaries, each bringing unique character to the borough’s evolving cannabis culture. Whether you’re a first-time shopper seeking guidance or a cannabis connoisseur looking for premium products, Queens offers exceptional options across its neighborhoods. Before your first visit, explore Herb’s comprehensive cannabis resource library—from strain guides to consumption methods—to make informed decisions about your purchases and preferences.
Terp Bros represents the spirit of Queens cannabis culture, combining vibrant community energy with serious product expertise. This CAURD-licensed dispensary has become a neighborhood staple in Astoria, attracting locals and visitors seeking authentic cannabis experiences rooted in social justice.
The moment you walk through the doors, you’re greeted by colorful graffiti murals celebrating Queens landmarks like the Hell Gate Bridge. Unlike sterile corporate dispensaries, Terp Bros embraces cannabis culture with warmth, local art, and budtenders who genuinely care about your experience.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Cannabis enthusiasts who value community and culture, shoppers seeking authentic NYC energy, anyone wanting to support social equity in the industry
Location & Hours:
NYC Cannabis Exchange serves Eastern Queens with a focus on quality, community, and education. Founded by Harry and Mireille, this family-run dispensary has built strong relationships with local neighborhoods, including Bellerose, Floral Park, and Hollis.
NYCCE prioritizes product curation and reviews certificates of analysis (COAs) before adding items to their shelves, so shoppers can verify what they’re buying.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Quality-conscious shoppers, medical patients seeking reliable products, Nassau County residents near the Queens border
Location & Hours:
Silk Road NYC brings two decades of underground cultivation expertise into the legal market. Owned by Sohan Bashar, Queens native and the first Bangladeshi owner of a NYC certified dispensary, Silk Road represents the “legacy to legal” movement at its finest.
The dispensary’s name honors both the historical trade route and cannabis’s complex underground history. This isn’t just branding—it’s a statement about bridging legacy expertise with modern excellence and transparency.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Concentrate enthusiasts, shoppers seeking legacy cannabis expertise, Jamaica Queens residents and visitors
Location & Hours:
GreenCup has quietly become one of Queens’ most trusted cannabis destinations. Located in Rego Park, this dispensary emphasizes transparency, wellness, and personalized guidance for every customer who walks through the door.
What sets GreenCup apart is their commitment to honest pricing—all prices include tax, so the price you see is exactly what you pay. No surprises at checkout, just straightforward service and premium products.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: First-time buyers seeking judgment-free guidance, shoppers who value transparency, Rego Park and Forest Hills residents
Location & Hours:
The Cannabis Place led Queens into the legal cannabis era as New York’s first and largest licensed delivery service. Now with a storefront location in Middle Village, this service-disabled veteran and minority-owned dispensary continues setting standards for accessibility and community service.
The Cannabis Place’s mission goes beyond retail—they’re committed to creating unionized cannabis careers, living wages, and work-life balance for their team. This pro-union stance reflects their broader commitment to positive community impact.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Delivery-focused shoppers, veterans, customers throughout NYC’s five boroughs and Long Island
Location & Hours:
The Flowery combines premium cannabis with unmatched convenience in Forest Hills. This dispensary focuses on top-shelf indoor flower, concentrates, and vapes from leading New York brands, creating an elevated shopping experience in Queens’ most diverse borough.
The Flowery’s Forest Hills location brings quality cannabis to a neighborhood known for its urban convenience and suburban charm, making premium products accessible without traveling into Manhattan.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Quality-focused shoppers, Forest Hills and surrounding neighborhood residents, customers seeking same-day delivery
Location & Hours:
Curaleaf brings national cannabis retail expertise to Queens with a focus on consistency, reliability, and approachable service. As part of one of America’s largest cannabis companies, Curaleaf Queens offers the selection and professionalism that comes with established operations.
The dispensary serves both medical and recreational customers, maintaining strong relationships with medical patients while welcoming adult-use shoppers with streamlined service.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Shoppers who value consistency and reliability, medical marijuana patients, customers seeking professional service
Location & Hours:
Yes, all dispensaries featured in this guide are licensed by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Licensed dispensaries display a New York State Licensed Cannabis Dispensary verification sticker near their main entrance with a QR code linking to the OCM’s official registry. Only purchase from licensed dispensaries to ensure products are tested, regulated, and safe. Unlicensed shops do not have regulated quality control measures, and their products may contain harmful ingredients or inaccurate labeling. You can verify any dispensary’s license status on the OCM’s official verification tool.
Generally yes—where tobacco smoking is permitted. New York allows adult cannabis use in private homes and most places where tobacco smoking is allowed, but it’s illegal anywhere tobacco smoking is banned and in any motor vehicle (moving or parked). In NYC, smoking or vaping (including cannabis) is prohibited in parks, beaches, boardwalks, pedestrian plazas, and most indoor public places (e.g., restaurants, bars, workplaces, event spaces). Always follow building/landlord rules and posted signs. On-site consumption lounges are authorized by law, but state regulators haven’t finalized operating rules yet, so lounges are not open.
Yes, several licensed Queens dispensaries deliver in-borough and nearby areas. The Cannabis Place offers free delivery across all five boroughs and Long Island. The Flowery provides same-day delivery across Queens and select nearby neighborhoods. Terp Bros offers delivery with minimum order requirements (service area may vary). NYC Cannabis Exchange provides licensed local delivery across Eastern Queens and nearby Nassau communities. For immediate needs, most Queens shops support online ordering with in-store pickup.
Expect to pay $30-$50 for a quality eighth in Queens dispensaries, with premium strains and exclusive drops occasionally reaching $50-$60. This pricing reflects Queens’ competitive market position and fair value compared to other NYC boroughs. Budget-conscious shoppers can find solid quality starting around $30-$35 per eighth at most locations. Many Queens dispensaries offer first-time customer discounts (typically 10-20% off) and loyalty programs rewarding repeat visits. Check Herb’s deals page for current Queens promotions before shopping.
No. Adults 21+ can buy at licensed recreational dispensaries without a medical card. That said, a medical certification still has advantages: lower effective taxes (patients don’t pay the 13% retail excise on adult-use; instead, registered organizations pay a 3.15% medical excise on gross receipts), a practitioner-determined 60-day supply rather than retail-style caps, and access to medical-only formulations with pharmacist guidance.
Herb Recommended Products:
READ MORE