Marijuana Dispensaries in Rochester

Are there Marijuana Dispensaries in Rochester?

No. Although the New York Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act makes adult-use cannabis legal in Rochester, there are currently no recreational cannabis dispensaries in the city.

Are there Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in Rochester?

Yes. Qualified Rochester residents can visit medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the city to obtain marijuana in the form of capsules, tinctures, tablets, oral powders, oral sprays, lozenges, transdermal patches, and whole-flower cannabis for vaporization.

Can You Buy Cannabis from Online Weed Dispensaries in Rochester?

You may buy cannabis online from medical marijuana dispensaries in the city if you are a qualified medical marijuana patient. Typically, you are required to pick up orders in-store; however, some dispensaries offer home delivery. With recreational cannabis sales not yet legal in the city, you cannot order adult-use weed online.

Visiting a Dispensary in Rochester

There are no legal recreational cannabis dispensaries in the City of Rochester where you can buy recreational cannabis. On the other hand, you are allowed to visit dispensaries in the city that are licensed to sell medicinal marijuana. When you go to a cannabis dispensary to purchase medicinal marijuana, you need to make sure you have a current and valid medical marijuana card from the State of New York as well as cash to pay for your medical marijuana purchases. You can find the address of Rochester medical marijuana dispensaries by searching for cannabis dispensaries in the city online. To search online, use the term “cannabis dispensaries near me.”

Rochester Dispensary Laws

Even though cannabis is now legal in New York, its sales for recreational purposes have not begun anywhere in the state. Hence, there are currently no dispensary laws for recreational dispensaries in Rochester. However, medical marijuana dispensaries in the city are required to abide by the following rules:

• Medical marijuana dispensaries are prohibited from dispensing medical marijuana to persons who are not certified patients or designated caregivers

• Medical marijuana dispensaries may not dispense more cannabis than the 60-day supplies permitted to certified patients until such patients have exhausted all but the 7-day medical marijuana supplies provided pursuant to the previously dispensed medical marijuana products by approved medical marijuana dispensaries

• Medical marijuana dispensaries are not permitted to be located within 1,000 feet of a building occupied by a school, church, synagogue, or other places of worship or 500 feet of a residential zone

• Medical marijuana products may not be consumed on the premises of a dispensary

Recreational Laws in Rochester

In 2021, under the New York Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, cannabis for recreational purposes became legal in Rochester. The MRTA authorized the purchase, possession, and transportation of cannabis in limited quantities by people over the age of 21. Pursuant to the MRTA, other cannabis laws in the city include the following:

• Adults may possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis

• Adults are only allowed to consume cannabis in their private homes

• Adults may share or gift marijuana without compensation to persons aged 21 or older. Such gifting or sharing may not exceed the stipulated marijuana possession limits and must not involve the sale or exchange of a commodity or service

• Transporting cannabis across state lines is unlawful

• Cannabis cultivation at home prior to the establishment of home cannabis cultivation rules by the New York Office of Cannabis Management is illegal

• The unlicensed sale of cannabis in the city is illegal

• It is unlawful to drive or operate a motor vehicle under the influence of cannabis

• Cannabis possession and use on federal lands, parks, and buildings are illegal

Note that the State of New York does not require Rochester Employers to commit to any act that could cause them to contravene federal law or lose federal funding. Hence, despite cannabis status in the city, Rochester employers are permitted to enforce policies restricting the use of cannabis in workplaces. For more information on cannabis use in workplaces, refer to the New York State Department of Labor’s Fact Sheet.

Medical Cannabis Laws in Rochester

Rochester residents diagnosed with severe or life-threatening diseases and registered with the New York Medical Cannabis Registry Program are permitted to use medical cannabis. The Compassionate Care Act, also called New York S7923, authorized medicinal marijuana statewide in 2014, allowing the sale of medical marijuana in all New York jurisdictions.

Registered medicinal cannabis patients in Rochester may possess up to sixty-day supplies of medical cannabis products per time. Under the Compassionate Care Act, minors and incapacitated patients in the city may assign caregivers to assist them in administering medicinal cannabis.

Note that Rochester medical marijuana retail outlets require a medical marijuana card in order to sell medicinal cannabis to visitors. Consumption of medical cannabis is prohibited on the premises of authorized dispensaries, as well as on federal grounds and in public areas.

Patients with New York medical marijuana cards may lawfully cultivate cannabis inside or outdoors at their homes or caregivers' homes. However, the cultivated plants may not be visible to the public; they must be confined or concealed by gates, doors, fences, or other obstacles. Landlords in Rochester cannot punish patients or caregivers for participating in legal medicinal marijuana activity. The state of New York prohibits landlords from inserting medicinal cannabis use restrictions in rental agreements unless doing so would result in the loss of federal benefits. Patients are permitted to cultivate up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants. Designated caregivers may service up to four patients simultaneously and cultivate up to six plants per registered patient but may not cultivate more than 12 cannabis plants at any one time.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Rochester

In order to obtain a medical marijuana card in the City of Rochester, you must have a debilitating condition and get a medical cannabis certification from a qualified healthcare practitioner. On the certification, the healthcare practitioner must certify that medical cannabis use is clinically appropriate for your condition. You can find a non-exhaustive list of healthcare practitioners approved to issue medical cannabis certifications under the medical cannabis program.

Common medical conditions for which New York-licensed healthcare practitioners issue medical cannabis certifications include cancer, HIV, AIDS, cachexia, chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, neuropathies, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. In addition to a medical cannabis certification, you must also provide proof of residence. You may use your New York State driver's license or other New York State ID card to prove that you reside in Rochester. Temporary residents may provide a hospital bill, utility bill, lease document, or another document approved by the New York State Department of Health as proof of residency.

Upon obtaining a medical cannabis certification, visit the MY.NY.gov website to complete your application for a medical cannabis registry card. If you do not already have an account on the my.ny.gov site, you must create an account and verify your profile on the site. Subsequently:

• Log in to your profile on the MY.NY.gov site

• Choose the "Health Applications" tab

• Choose the "MCDMS (Medical Cannabis Data Management System)" link

• Choose the "Start New Registration" button

• Follow the subsequent prompts to complete your registration

When your application is approved, the New York State Department of Health will provide you with a temporary medical marijuana identification card via the registration portal, which you may use in addition to a government-issued picture ID card to buy medicinal cannabis. In 1-2 weeks, your permanent medical marijuana card should arrive in the mail.

For additional information about obtaining a medical marijuana card in Rochester, contact the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) at medical@ocm.ny.gov or (888) 626-5151.

Where is it Legal to Consume Cannabis in Rochester?

Cannabis use is legal in private homes or properties and locations where tobacco consumption is allowed. However, cannabis consumption is illegal in motor vehicles, public, or federal properties. Note that Rochester landlords and employers may prohibit the use of cannabis on their properties.

How to Buy Cannabis at a Rochester Dispensary

You may purchase medical cannabis at a dispensary in Rochester, either by visiting the dispensary's physical location or by buying cannabis online. Use the search phrase "cannabis dispensaries near me" on an online search engine to find the physical addresses of Rochester medical cannabis dispensaries. When recreational cannabis retailers open in the city, you will need a valid government-issued ID card to confirm you are 21 or older in order to buy marijuana from such dispensaries. To purchase medicinal marijuana, you must provide your medical marijuana identification card.

The Average Price in Rochester

An eighth of cannabis flower in Rochester costs about $45, while edibles purchased in single servings cost about $6 each.

Most Popular Strains in Rochester

Some of the popular cannabis strains in Rochester include:

• White Widow

• Lemon Haze

• Sour Kush

• Cheddar Melt

Can You Smoke in Public in Rochester?

No. Cannabis smoking in public places is not permitted in Rochester. Public spaces include schools, playgrounds, parks, or any area where people gather.

How Much Marijuana Can You Possess at Once in Rochester?

In accordance with the New York MRTA, Rochester residents over the age of 21 are permitted to possess 24 grams of cannabis concentrates and 3 ounces of cannabis. Registered medicinal cannabis patients in the city may possess medical cannabis products for up to sixty days.

Can I Ship Cannabis in Rochester?

No. Shipping cannabis (medical or recreational) into Rochester from another jurisdiction is prohibited as cannabis is illegal federally.

Can I Order Cannabis Online in Rochester?

You may order medical cannabis online in Rochester. There are currently no dispensaries from which residents may purchase adult-use cannabis in the city.

Are there 24-hour Dispensaries in Rochester?

There are currently no 24-hour dispensaries in Rochester.

Can Tourists Use Dispensaries in Rochester?

Tourists cannot use recreational cannabis dispensaries in Rochester as there are currently no dispensaries selling adult-use cannabis in the city. Tourists can also not purchase medical cannabis in Rochester unless they have obtained New York State Department of Health-issued medical marijuana identification cards.

Do You Need ID for Dispensary in Rochester?

Currently, it is illegal to purchase recreational weed in Rochester, as marijuana dispensaries are not allowed to operate in the city. However, if you are a registered medical marijuana patient, you may purchase medical marijuana products by presenting your New York medical marijuana identification card at a medical cannabis dispensary in the city.

Best Dispensaries in Rochester

Columbia Care and Rise dispensaries are the only medical marijuana dispensaries in the City of Rochester. There are currently no adult-use marijuana dispensaries in the city.

Do Dispensaries Scan your ID in Rochester?

There are currently no approved adult-use marijuana dispensaries in Rochester. However, visitors to the medical marijuana dispensaries in the city will have their IDs scanned by those establishments.

How Many Dispensaries are in Rochester?

According to the New York Office of Cannabis Management website, only two cannabis dispensaries currently operate in Rochester. The dispensaries serve registered medical cannabis patients and their caregivers.

Can Dispensaries in Rochester Take Credit Cards?

Rochester weed dispensaries do not take credit cards. Medical marijuana patients and caregivers visiting the dispensaries may pay using cash or debit cards to complete their transactions.

How Many Dispensaries Can You Visit in One Day?

You can currently visit multiple dispensaries in one day in the City of Rochester. However, you will not be able to buy more cannabis than is permitted under New York law.

Do Dispensaries in Rochester Take Health Insurance?

No. Health insurance policies do not cover marijuana purchases in Rochester.

Do Dispensaries in Rochester Track How Much Weed You Buy?

Yes. Rochester dispensaries are required to track weed purchases in their facilities.

Can You Enter a Dispensary in Rochester at Age 18?

When recreational cannabis dispensaries commence operations in the city, you must be 21 or older to enter such facilities. Rochester residents aged 18 and older with medical cannabis cards may visit medical cannabis dispensaries to buy medical cannabis products.

Where Can I Find the Rochester Cannabis Regulator’s Contact Information?

The New York Office of Cannabis Management regulates cannabis activities in Rochester and other New York State locations. You may contact the OCM by emailing info@ocm.ny.gov or calling (888) 626-5151.

How Do I Report Illegal Cannabis Activities in Rochester?

You may report illegal cannabis activities in Rochester to the Rochester Police Department or the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).