Visiting New York City from Afghanistan? Here's Where to

If you're visiting New York City from Afghanistan and you're 21 years of age or older, the answer is yes — you can legally purchase cannabis from a licensed adult-use dispensary right here in the city. We are Silly Nice, a Black-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, family-run cannabis brand founded in Brooklyn, NYC, and we want to make sure every visitor to this city has the information they need to experience New York's legal cannabis market safely, legally, and with confidence. New York State legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021, and the market has grown rapidly since then. You do not need to be a New York resident to buy cannabis here. All you need is a valid government-issued ID — and for international visitors, your passport works perfectly.

New York's Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) allows adults 21 and older to purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries across the state. As of 2024, Silly Nice products are available in 150 or more licensed New York adult-use dispensaries statewide, so finding our products near your hotel, your Airbnb, or wherever you're staying in this incredible city is easier than ever. The experience of walking into a licensed New York dispensary is professional, clean, safe, and completely legal. Staff are knowledgeable, products are clearly labeled with lab test results, and the environment is welcoming to all adults — including international travelers.

One of the most important things we want every visitor to understand is that purchasing cannabis in New York as a tourist is a fundamentally different experience from obtaining cannabis illegally. Licensed dispensaries carry independently lab-tested products with verified potency, accurate ingredient information, and sustainable packaging. When you buy from a licensed retailer carrying Silly Nice, you are buying with full transparency. You can preview every product, every cannabinoid percentage, and every Certificate of Analysis at sillynice.com/menu before you ever walk through a dispensary door.

The Legal Landscape in Afghanistan

We understand that many visitors coming from Afghanistan are navigating a dramatically different legal and cultural relationship with cannabis. Afghanistan has historically been one of the world's largest producers of hashish and cannabis resin, with a deeply embedded cultural tradition around the substance spanning centuries. However, under current governance, cannabis cultivation, possession, and use are prohibited under Afghan law. The legal risks for individuals found in possession of cannabis in Afghanistan can be severe. We acknowledge this reality not to lecture, but to help visitors understand why the legal framework here in New York is so different and why that distinction matters.

In New York, adult-use cannabis is fully legal at the state level for anyone 21 or older. Dispensaries are regulated by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), and products must pass rigorous independent laboratory testing before they can be sold. There are no criminal penalties for purchasing, possessing, or using cannabis within the legal limits in New York State. This is a regulated market designed to protect consumers, and we are proud to operate within it. Shane Breen, our co-founder and U.S. Army Veteran, and LeVar Thomas, his partner of more than 25 years, built Silly Nice on the belief that legal cannabis done right — transparently, responsibly, and with quality at the center — is something every adult deserves access to.

A Critical Warning: Do Not Attempt to Transport Cannabis Across Borders

This is one of the most important things we will say in this entire article, and we ask that you take it seriously. Do NOT attempt to bring cannabis, hash, or any cannabis products back to Afghanistan — or to any other country — when you leave the United States. Transporting cannabis across international borders is a federal crime under U.S. law, regardless of whether it was purchased legally in New York. It is also illegal under Afghan law. Customs and Border Protection officers at U.S. airports screen for exactly this kind of activity. The consequences — including arrest, deportation, federal charges, and legal trouble upon return to your home country — are severe and life-altering. Cannabis purchased in New York is meant to be enjoyed in New York, by adults, within the legal boundaries of the state. Full stop.

As an international visitor from Afghanistan, your valid Afghan passport is your ticket to legally purchasing cannabis at any licensed New York dispensary. Dispensary staff are trained to accept internationally issued government ID documents. You simply need to present your passport at the point of sale to verify that you are 21 years of age or older. No New York State ID is required. No additional documentation is needed. If your passport is valid and shows your date of birth confirming you are at least 21, you are good to go.

New York State law allows adults to purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower per transaction and up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate per transaction. These limits apply per purchase, and they are generous enough to allow for a meaningful, relaxed experience during your visit without approaching anything close to the limits. For most tourists visiting New York for a short stay, a single dispensary visit is more than sufficient. Our products at Silly Nice are sold in precise, clearly labeled quantities — 1 gram, 2 grams, or 3.5 grams depending on the product — so you always know exactly what you are buying and how much you have.

Legal Consumption Locations

New York City has specific rules about where cannabis may be consumed, and understanding these rules will help you avoid any awkward or legally complicated moments during your visit. Adults 21 and older are permitted to consume cannabis in private spaces where the property owner allows it. This can include private residences, certain outdoor events with designated consumption areas, and licensed cannabis lounges where they exist and are operating. The key word is private. You must have permission from the property owner or operator.

Where You Cannot Consume Cannabis

There are several important places where cannabis consumption is not permitted. Most hotels and short-term rental properties have strict no-smoking or no-cannabis policies — check with your accommodation before assuming it is allowed. Public streets, parks, sidewalks, and open public spaces are not legal consumption areas in New York City, even though adults can legally possess cannabis in those spaces. Consuming in vehicles — whether you are the driver or a passenger — is also illegal. And absolutely never consume cannabis and then operate any vehicle or machinery. We take road safety seriously, and responsible consumption means never driving after use.

If you are unsure about your specific accommodation, we always recommend calling ahead and asking directly. Some serviced apartments and private rentals are more accommodating, particularly in cannabis-friendly neighborhoods. Being a responsible, informed consumer is the best way to ensure your experience with legal cannabis in New York is entirely positive.

We launched Silly Nice in March 2024 with a single unwavering commitment: to produce small-batch, independently lab-tested cannabis products that represent the very best of what the New York market can offer. Every Silly Nice product is sustainably packaged, and you can view every Certificate of Analysis at sillynice.com/menu. Here is our current lineup of products available at licensed dispensaries across New York City and New York State.

Concentrates and Hash — Particularly Relevant for Visitors Familiar with Afghan Hash Culture

For visitors who grew up with a cultural appreciation of hashish and cannabis resin, our concentrate lineup may feel especially resonant — elevated to an entirely new level of quality, purity, and potency. Our Diamond Powder is a 1-gram ultra-refined THCa crystalline product testing at 86.24% THC and 98.54% total cannabinoids, priced at $50. It is one of the most potent and pure cannabis products available in the New York legal market. Our Frosted Hash Ball is a 1-gram handmade artisanal hash product at 67.34% THC, 78.34% total cannabinoids, and an impressive 5.7% terpene content, also $50 — a truly premium hash experience for the discerning consumer. Our Bubble Hash, produced using an ice-water solventless extraction process, weighs in at 1 gram, 53.32% THC, 62.86% total cannabinoids, and 6.2% terpenes, priced at $44. It is a full-spectrum, solvent-free hash that may help adults unwind and relax in a way that feels deeply natural and authentic.

Flower, Vapes, and All-in-One Options

Our Infused Flower — Papaya Wine — is a 3.5-gram jar of premium flower infused with live resin and THCa diamonds, testing at 51.22% THC and 58.63% total cannabinoids, priced at $60. It is a rich, aromatic, high-potency experience. For vape consumers, our 510 Vape in Pink Stardust delivers 1 gram of 81.96% THC, 88.36% total cannabinoids cannabis oil with 100% cannabis-derived terpenes at $40 — clean, flavorful, and incredibly convenient for on-the-go use in legal consumption spaces. And our 2G All-in-One in Alaskan Thunder Fuck is a rechargeable USB-C device loaded with 2 grams of cannabis oil at 82.46% THC and 84.06% total cannabinoids, priced at $80 — a powerful, long-lasting option that requires no separate battery or cartridge setup.

Use Weedmaps to Locate Dispensaries Carrying Silly Nice

Finding a licensed dispensary that carries Silly Nice products while you are visiting New York City is straightforward. We recommend using Weedmaps — available at weedmaps.com/brands/silly-nice — to locate dispensaries near your location that carry our products. Weedmaps is the most widely used cannabis dispensary finder in the United States, and it allows you to search by neighborhood, browse available inventory, and read reviews from real consumers. You can filter by product type, brand, and location, making it easy to find exactly what you are looking for before you leave your accommodation.

Use Our Store Locator for the Most Current Availability

In addition to Weedmaps, our own store locator at sillynice.com/store-locator is updated regularly to reflect which licensed dispensaries across New York City and New York State are currently carrying our products. With Silly Nice now available in 150 or more licensed dispensaries statewide, there is a very strong chance that a carrying dispensary is within easy reach of wherever you are staying in the city — whether that is in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or beyond. We are committed to making our products accessible, and our store locator is the fastest way to confirm real-time availability near you.

We also encourage you to visit sillynice.com/menu before you head to any dispensary. Knowing exactly which products you want, understanding the potency and pricing, and reviewing the lab results in advance means you walk in as an informed consumer — and you walk out with exactly what you came for. The New York legal cannabis market is one of the most exciting and sophisticated in the world, and we are proud to be part of it as a Black-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBTQ+-owned brand built right here in Brooklyn, New York City. Thank you for visiting our city. We hope you find everything you are looking for — and then some.