Why People Near Hudson Yards Reach For Vapes
A vape is easy to carry and quick to use, which is why it suits a lot of people moving through this part of Manhattan. If you are walking the High Line, going up to the Edge, catching something at the Shed, or just leaving the office, you may not want to wait on a longer onset or roll flower in a hotel room. A cartridge fits in a pocket and the smell is lighter than a joint.
Two formats cover most of what people want here. A 510-thread cartridge screws onto a separate battery. An all-in-one disposable comes with the battery built in, so there is nothing to charge or match up. The disposable is the simpler pick if you are traveling and do not want to carry extra hardware.
How Vape Carts Differ
Carts mostly differ by how the oil is extracted, and that is worth understanding before you buy.
Live rosin is solventless. It is made from flash-frozen cannabis using ice water and a heat press, with no chemical solvent involved. It tends to keep more of the plant's terpenes and sits at the higher end on price.
Live resin uses a solvent on flash-frozen flower. The flash-freeze helps preserve terpenes, and it usually costs less than live rosin.
Distillate is refined THC with terpenes added back in after extraction. It is generally the lowest cost and the most neutral in flavor.
The menu is live and stock rotates, so rather than promise a specific brand or cartridge, the best move is to check the current menu or ask a budtender when you come in. Chelsea menu: dutchie.com/stores/blazinup.
How To Read A Vape Cart Label
Every New York vape cart carries a few fields worth a quick look. There is the extraction method, the strain or chemovar name, the total THC, the dominant terpene, and a QR code that links to the lab Certificate of Analysis. Scan the QR code and you can see the test results for that batch before you open it.
If you only check one thing past the THC number, make it the dominant terpene. Two carts can list the same THC percentage and feel different depending on the terpene profile. Ask a budtender to walk you through the label if you are short on time, that is a normal counter conversation.
Vapes And Live Events
If you are headed to a show, plan around the event and the venue's own rules. Onset from a vape is fast compared to an edible, so people often time a draw to the period before doors. Every venue sets its own policy on what you can bring in and where you can use anything, so check that policy directly, it overrides anything we can tell you. Public consumption in the city broadly follows the same geography as the smoking ban, so outdoor use near parks and building entrances is restricted.
Why Buy From A Licensed Shop
Buying from a licensed dispensary is the difference that matters most with vapes. During the 2019 EVALI outbreak, the CDC traced a wave of serious lung injuries mainly to vitamin E acetate, a thickening agent found in unlicensed-market cartridges. New York requires licensed products to be tested at a state-permitted lab, and that testing covers things like vitamin E acetate, heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticides, and microbials. The QR code on the package links to those results.
Manhattan still has plenty of unlicensed shops selling carts that have never been tested. If you want to confirm a store is licensed, the OCM lists every licensed adult-use retailer at cannabis.ny.gov.
How To Find Us
The Alchemy Chelsea is at 302 8th Avenue, New York NY 10001. You can walk in and browse, or ask a budtender to pull the lab COA for any product before you buy. Our other store, The Alchemy Flatiron, is at 12 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011, between 5th and 6th Avenue.
The Alchemy Chelsea is open Monday and Tuesday 10am to 10pm, Wednesday to Friday 10am to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 10pm. The Alchemy Flatiron is open Monday 9am to 9pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 8pm. Phone for Chelsea is (646) 819-4143. You can also check the live menu and order ahead at dutchie.com/stores/blazinup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are vape pens legal near Hudson Yards?
Yes. Adult-use cannabis vape products from a New York State-licensed dispensary are legal for adults 21 and over. The Alchemy is a licensed OCM adult-use retailer with stores at 302 8th Avenue (Chelsea) and 12 West 18th Street (Flatiron). You can confirm any store's license status at cannabis.ny.gov.
Can I vape at a venue near Hudson Yards?
That depends on the venue. Each operator sets its own policy, so confirm with venue staff before you go. Public consumption on sidewalks and near parks follows the city's smoking-ban rules.
What is the difference between live rosin, live resin, and distillate carts?
Live rosin is solventless, made with ice water and a heat press. Live resin uses a solvent on flash-frozen flower. Distillate is refined THC with terpenes added back in. Live rosin usually costs the most and keeps the most terpenes. Distillate is usually the lowest cost and the most neutral. Live resin sits in between.
Do you deliver?
We offer same-day delivery in Manhattan. If you are at a hotel, you need to be present with a valid 21+ photo ID at handoff, since the order has to go to the cardholder. Check the live menu for current delivery availability to your address.
What is the difference between a 510 cart and a disposable?
A 510-thread cartridge screws onto a separate battery that you buy and reuse. An all-in-one disposable has the battery built in, so there is nothing to charge or match. The disposable is the easier option if you are traveling.
Do you carry CBD-dominant vapes?
We carry CBD products, and the vape selection rotates. Ask at the counter or check the live menu for what is in stock right now.
How do I verify The Alchemy is licensed before I order?
The OCM lists every licensed adult-use retailer at cannabis.ny.gov. The Alchemy is a licensed OCM adult-use retailer at 302 8th Avenue and 12 West 18th Street. Every product carries a QR code that links to its lab Certificate of Analysis.
The Alchemy Editors
Field notes from the counter at Chelsea + Flatiron.
Written by our procurement and budtender team. Every claim verified against NYS OCM regulations and current shelf inventory. Updated as the menu rotates.
Continue reading
Next from The Alchemy Journal.
Edibles Near Madison Square Garden
The Alchemy Chelsea is at 302 8th Avenue, New York NY 10001, a short walk south of Madison Square Garden. If you have a Knicks game, a Rangers game, or a concert on the calendar, edibles are an easy format to pick up before you head over. We are a licensed New York State adult-use dispensary, and edibles are one of the main categories we carry. You can buy in store or check the live menu first.
Flower Near Penn Station
The Alchemy Chelsea is at 302 8th Avenue, New York NY 10001, a short walk south of Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall. If you are coming through on NJ Transit, the LIRR, Amtrak, or the subway, we are an easy stop heading south on 8th Avenue. We are a licensed New York State adult-use dispensary, and flower is one of the main categories we carry, sold in jars with a strain-specific Certificate of Analysis on every package.
Pre-Rolls Near Times Square
The Alchemy Chelsea at 302 8th Avenue is the closest of our two stores to Times Square. It sits on the same 8th Avenue line that runs down from the Theater District, so the walk south is straightforward, and the A, C, and E trains run from 42nd Street and Port Authority to the 23rd Street station nearby. We are a licensed New York State adult-use dispensary, and we carry pre-rolls along with the rest of the cannabis categories. The live menu for the Chelsea store is on Dutchie at /stores/blazinup.