Here’s what to look for when buying cannabis flower in NYC.
We help customers in Greenwich Village find their go-to weed strain every day.
The main thing they shop for is effects. How smoking a strain will make them feel during and after their sessions.
I’m going to give you a complete guide finding a strain you can stick with. These are the same tips we give customers at our NYC dispensary, Smacked Village.
Decide How You Want to Feel
The best place to start is by choosing between sativa, indica, or hybrid.
These strain types give you a good idea of how you’ll feel. They describe the genetics of the plant the bud comes from.
Think of these more as like a range. A strain can lean sativa or indica. The amount it leans in either directions influences the effect.
Sativa-Leaning Strains
Choose sativa-leaning strains when they you something more mentally stimulating.
Many people describe feeling “euphoric” after smoking sativas. They’re known to bring a cerebral high that may spark creativity.
A good sativa can leave you feeling engaged and active rather than stuck to the couch.
If you’re looking for something that keeps you moving, this is usually a good place to start.
Indica-Leaning Strains
These are the strains customers often ask for after work or when they’re ready to relax for the night.
The effects from indicas can feel more calming, mellow, and body-focused.
If your goal is to unwind, indica-leaning flower may be where you want to look.
Hybrids
Most cannabis flower on dispensary shelves today falls somewhere in the hybrid category.
Some hybrids can leave you feeling more upbeat.
Others can bring a more relaxing feel.
These strains usually give you a mix of sativa and indica effects.
Try Most Popular Strains in Each Category
Once you decide how you want to feel, start with the most popular strain in that category.
They’re popular for a reason.
The top indica strains in NYC are Gumbo and Northern Lights.
For sativas, it’s Jack Herer.
And for hybrids it’s Super Boof, Runtz, GG4, and Blue Dream.
Check out our full list of the top cannabis strains in NYC.
Pay Attention to Terpenes
Once you’ve found a few strains you like, start paying attention to terpenes.
Terpenes are what that give cannabis its smell and flavor.
How Terpenes Influence Effects
Some terpene profiles can make you feel more upbeat.
Others can feel more calming.
You’ll notice certain smells and flavors show up in across strains.
Maybe you like citrusy strains that keep you feeling active.
Or maybe you always end up enjoying strains with gassy, earthy aromas.
Once you start recognizing those patterns, finding new strains gets a lot easier.
What Does Terpene Percentage Mean?
Most cannabis flower bags list a total terpene percentage.
This tells you how much of the flower is made up of terpenes.
Higher terpene percentages usually mean stronger aromas and more flavor.
A flower with 1% total terpenes may smell fairly mild.
A flower with 3% terpenes may have louder aroma.
Dominant Types
Myrcene – earthy, herbal, and musky aromas with relaxing, mellow effects.
Limonene – bright citrus smell with uplifting, energetic, or mood-boosting effects.
Caryophyllene – spicy, peppery, and gassy aromas with balanced effects.
Pinene – pine trees, fresh forests, and earthy woods aromas with clear-headed and refreshing effects.
Linalool – floral, slightly sweet aroma with calm, relaxing effects.
Humulene – earthy and woody aromas.
Terpinolene – floral, citrus, and herbal aromas.
How Often Do You Smoke?
The more often you smoke cannabis, the more your tolerance will build.
If you only smoke once in a while, try a strain that has a lower THC percentage.
A strain in the high teens or low 20s can still hit hard if your tolerance is low.
Daily smokers tend to look for flower with higher THC percentages.
You can find cannabis flower on our menu at 30%+ THC.
Find Your Taste Buds
You’ve figured out how you want to feel.
Now it comes down to what you like to smoke.
One of the easiest ways to narrow down your options is by paying attention to flavor.
Some people love sweet, fruity flower.
Others want something loud, gassy, and pungent.
Dessert Strains
These strains are known for sweet aromas that can remind people of cookies, cake, or berries.
Favorites like Runtz, Gelato, Ice Cream Cake, and Wedding Cake fall into this category.
Gas Strains
These are known for strong aromas that can smell like skunk, pepper, or straight-up weed.
Popular gas strains are GG4, Sour Diesel, Chemdawg, and many OG varieties.
Fruity Strains
Fruity strains bring bright flavors like berries, citrus and tropical fruit.
Blue Dream, Strawberry Cough, and many modern Runtz crosses are good examples.
Earthy Strains
Some strains stay closer to the plant’s natural side.
These flowers carry notes of pine, wood, herbs, spice, or fresh soil.
Northern Lights and many Kush varieties fall into this category.
Shop by Brand
Good brands are more consistent from batch to batch.
Some of the most popular cannabis flower brands available in NYC right now are Operator, 420 Treez, Back Home Cannabis Co., Dumbo Electric, Strain Gang, and VOP.
Each brand has its own growing style, genetics, and strain lineup.
When you find a brand that’s consistently putting out flower you enjoy, that’s a good place to start.
Check out the top cannabis brands in NYC right now.
Check for Quality
Here are a few things to look for before you buy.
Smell
The nose knows.
Good flower should have a strong aroma when you open the jar.
Sweet, fruity, gassy, or earthy, the smell should jump out at you.
Ask your budtender to let you smell the strain you’re buying.
Consistency
Quality flower should feel slightly sticky and springy when squeezed.
Flower that’s too dry can burn quickly and lose flavor.
You want fresh, properly cured buds.
Shake and Pre-Ground Flower
Shake and pre-ground flower are the cheapest flower options at dispensaries.
They’re made up of smaller pieces of flower that are already broken down and ready to roll.
If you’re shopping on a budget, they can be a great deal.
Small Buds for Less
Many brands offer small buds, sometimes called “smalls.”
These are smaller pieces of flower that didn’t make it into premium whole-bud bags.
The effects are the same, but the price is lower.
Whole Buds for Peak Freshness
If freshness is your top priority, whole flower is the way to go.
Larger buds hold onto their moisture, aroma, and flavor longer than broken-up flower.
Try a New Strain or Stock Up
Do you want to try something new or stock up on a favorite?
Small Bags
You can try new strains with smaller bags.
Find these in 0.7g, 3.5g, 4.2g packs in the $25-$60 range.
Bigger Bags
Moving up to a larger bag gets you a better price per gram – 7g and 14g.
You may also know these as a quarter and a half ounce.
Biggest Bags
The biggest bags offer the best overall value. That’s 28 grams.
If it’s a strain you know you’ll keep reaching for, buying in bulk can save you money in the long run.
You can find 28g weed bags in NYC for as low as $115.
What to Know About Buying and Smoking Cannabis in NYC
Buying cannabis in NYC is simple these days.
As long as you’re 21 or older, you can legally purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries.
Just bring a current government-issued I.D.
You can smoke cannabis in the city anywhere you can smoke tobacco.
Learn more about legally buying and consuming cannabis in the city.
How to Store Your Buds for Freshness
Good flower can lose its flavor fast.
Avoid exposing your cannabis to heat, sunlight, and air.
Keep it in an airtight container if you can. Somewhere cool and dark.
A glass jar works great.
If you’re buying in bulk, try vaccuum-sealed bags.
Try Other Cannabis Products
Flower is where most people start.
But if you don’t want to smoke, edibles are what most people choose.
Pre-rolls are great when you don’t feel like rolling, or don’t know how to.
And concentrates and cannabis vapes the most potent options available.
Once you find the effects and flavors you enjoy, your can find your favorite strains across other product categories.