FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Shopping, Ordering & Pickup
Q: What are your hours?
We’re open Sunday through Wednesday from 10am to 10pm, and Thursday through Saturday from 10am to 11pm. Holiday hours and any one-off closures get posted on our website and social channels, so check before you make the trip.
Q: Where are you located?
You can find us at 1819 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10128, in the heart of the Upper East Side’s Yorkville neighborhood. Use the “Get Directions” link at nucleusdispensary.com to map it on your phone, or call us at (914) 491-9141 if you need a hand finding the door.
Q: Do I need an appointment to shop?
Nope. Walk-ins are always welcome. If it’s your first time and you’d like a guided experience with one of our budtenders, just let us know at the door and we’ll take care of you.
Q: Can I order online for pickup?
Yes. We offer Express Pickup: browse and reserve your order through our online menu at nucleusdispensary.com/store, then come pick it up in store at your convenience. We’ll have it bagged, sealed, and ready to go.
Q: How long does Express Pickup take?
Most online orders are ready within 15 to 30 minutes during business hours. We’ll send a confirmation when your order is ready. Just bring a valid government-issued ID when you come in.
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash and debit (via a PIN-based ATM-style transaction). We do not accept credit cards. That’s a federal banking limitation that applies to every licensed dispensary in the country, not just us.
Q: Is there an ATM on-site?
Yes, we have an ATM inside the shop for your convenience. Standard ATM fees apply.
Q: Do you offer delivery?
Not just yet. Delivery is on the way. For now, you can shop with us In-Store or use Express Pickup through our online menu at nucleusdispensary.com/store. Stay tuned, we’ll announce delivery as soon as it launches.
Q: Is there a Nucleus mobile app?
It’s coming soon. Our mobile app will let you browse the full menu, place orders, and earn rewards right from your phone. Subscribe to our newsletter at nucleusdispensary.com to be the first to know when it drops.
Q: Do you have first-time customer specials?
We love a first visit. When you come in, let our team know it’s your first time with us. They’ll walk you through the menu, answer your questions, and let you know about any current new-customer offers.
Q: Do you have a loyalty or rewards program?
Yes. Our rewards program will launch alongside the Nucleus mobile app, where you’ll earn points on every purchase, unlock community perks, and get early access to drops and exclusive offers. Join our newsletter at nucleusdispensary.com so we can let you know the moment it goes live.
Q: Can I return a product if it’s not right for me?
By New York State law, cannabis products generally cannot be returned once they leave the dispensary. If you receive a defective product (a vape that won’t fire, a pre-roll that won’t draw, etc.), bring it back with your receipt as soon as possible and our team will do everything we can to make it right.
Q: Is there a purchase limit per visit?
Yes. New York State sets a maximum daily purchase limit of 3 ounces of cannabis flower (or its equivalent in other forms, up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis). Our team will help you stay within the limit if you have questions.
Products & Cannabis Education
Q: What kinds of products do you carry?
Our menu rotates regularly, but you’ll typically find flower, prerolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, and topicals, all from New York State licensed cultivators and processors. Check the live menu at nucleusdispensary.com/store to see what’s in stock today.
Q: I’m new to cannabis. Where should I start?
Welcome. We’ve got you. We usually recommend starting low and going slow: a low-dose edible (2.5–5 mg THC), a single pre-roll, or a small amount of flower or vape. Tell your budtender what kind of experience you’re hoping for (relaxed, social, focused, sleepy) and they’ll guide you to something that fits.
Q: What’s the difference between indica, sativa, and hybrid?
It’s a useful starting point, but not the whole story. Generally: indica is associated with relaxing, body-heavy effects; sativa with uplifting, heady effects; and hybrid is somewhere in between. In reality, the effects you’ll feel depend more on the strain’s cannabinoid and terpene profile than on the indica/sativa label, which is exactly the kind of thing our team loves to talk through with you.
Q: What’s the difference between THC and CBD?
THC is the cannabinoid most responsible for the classic cannabis “high.” CBD is non-intoxicating and is often used for relaxation, recovery, or to balance out THC. Many of our products combine both in different ratios. A higher CBD ratio tends to feel mellower; a higher THC ratio tends to feel stronger.
Q: What are terpenes and why do they matter?
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis (and lemons, pine trees, lavender, mangoes…) their scent. They also shape how a strain feels. For example, myrcene tends to feel calming, limonene tends to feel uplifting, and pinene tends to feel clear-headed. We’re happy to help you find strains with terpene profiles that match the vibe you’re after.
Q: How long does it take for edibles to kick in?
Usually 30 minutes to 2 hours, sometimes longer, depending on your body, what you’ve eaten, and the product. The number one rule with edibles: start low, wait at least 2 hours before taking more, and don’t stack doses. Most beginners do well at 2.5–5 mg of THC.
Q: How long do effects from flower or vaping last?
Inhaled cannabis (flower, pre-rolls, vapes) typically peaks within 10–30 minutes and tapers off over 2–4 hours. Edibles last longer, often 4–8 hours, with a slower come-up and a stronger body feel.
Q: What’s the difference between live resin, distillate, rosin, and live rosin?
All four are cannabis concentrates, but they’re made differently. Distillate is highly refined and very potent, but stripped of most flavor. Live resin is extracted from fresh-frozen flower using solvents, and it keeps a lot of flavor and terpenes. Rosin is solventless, made with heat and pressure. Live rosin is solventless and made from fresh-frozen flower, generally the most flavorful and most premium. Ask us to help you pick what fits your taste and your budget.
Q: How should I store my cannabis at home?
Cool, dark, and airtight is the move. Keep products in their original child-resistant packaging, away from heat and sunlight, and out of reach of children and pets. Stored well, flower stays fresh for several months.
Q: Are your products lab-tested?
Yes. Every product on our shelves is grown, processed, and tested under New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management rules. That means independent lab testing for potency and contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, microbials, and mycotoxins) before the product reaches the consumer’s hands.
Q: Can your team recommend products for sleep, anxiety, focus, or pain?
Our budtenders are trained to share product information, terpene and cannabinoid profiles, and general consumer feedback so you can make an informed choice. We’re not medical professionals and we can’t give medical advice or make health claims. If you’re managing a specific condition, please talk to your doctor.
Q: What does “Legacy to Legal” mean?
It’s our story, and the story of so many in this industry. “Legacy” refers to the operators, growers, and culture-keepers who built cannabis long before it was legal. “Legacy to Legal” means honoring that knowledge and bringing it into the regulated market with integrity. With over 30 years in this plant, we’re proud to be of the people, for the people.
Q: Do you carry products from Black-owned or social equity brands?
Yes. Supporting social equity operators is core to who we are. Look for our “Community Pick” or “Equity Operator” tags on the menu, or just ask a budtender to point you to brands led by people most impacted by cannabis prohibition.
New York Cannabis Laws & Compliance
Q: How old do I have to be to enter the dispensary?
You must be 21 or older to enter the sales floor or make a purchase, no exceptions. We’ll check ID at the door every single time, yes, even if we know you. It’s the law.
Q: What kind of ID do I need?
A valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID. That means a U.S. driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport or passport card, military ID, or a foreign passport. Temporary paper IDs and photocopies are not accepted.
Q: How much cannabis can I legally buy in New York?
Per New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), adults 21+ may purchase up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower (or the equivalent in other product forms, up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis) per day.
Q: How much cannabis can I legally possess in New York?
Adults 21+ can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower and 24 grams of concentrate for personal use outside the home, with higher limits for secured storage at home. Always keep cannabis in its original sealed packaging when you’re out and about.
Q: Where can I legally consume cannabis in New York?
In general, you can consume cannabis in private residences and in most places where tobacco smoking is allowed. You cannot consume in cars (driver or passenger), on sidewalks within 100 feet of a school, in workplaces, on federal property, or in state parks. Many landlords and hotels also prohibit it, so always check first.
Q: Can I use cannabis while driving, even as a passenger?
No. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal in New York, with serious penalties. Open containers of cannabis are prohibited in the passenger area of a vehicle, just like alcohol. Always keep products sealed in the trunk during transport.
Q: Can I bring cannabis I bought somewhere else into New York?
No. Cannabis remains federally illegal, which means crossing state lines with it, even between two legal states, is a federal offense. Buy in New York, consume in New York.
Q: Can I travel within New York with cannabis I bought from you?
Within New York State, yes, as long as you’re 21+, you stay within possession limits, and the product remains in its original sealed packaging. Do not open it or consume it in the car. If you’re flying out of a New York airport, leave the cannabis at home.
Q: Why can’t I pay with a credit card?
Cannabis is still federally illegal, which prevents major credit card networks from processing dispensary purchases. Every licensed dispensary in the U.S. operates under the same constraint. We accept cash and debit, and there’s an ATM on-site.
Q: What is CAURD and why does it matter?
CAURD stands for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary, a New York State licensing program that prioritized opening the first legal adult-use dispensaries to entrepreneurs (or nonprofits serving people) directly impacted by past cannabis convictions. Nucleus is proud to be a CAURD licensee (License No. OCM-CAURD-24-000209). When you shop with us, your dollars support the people the War on Drugs targeted hardest.
Q: How do I know a dispensary is legal in New York?
Licensed dispensaries display their New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) license, post the OCM “Dispensary Verified” seal, and appear on the official directory at cannabis.ny.gov. If a shop can’t show its license, it isn’t legal, and its products haven’t been tested for your safety.
Q: Are there taxes on cannabis in New York?
Yes. New York applies a 9% state excise tax, a 4% local excise tax, and a THC-content-based potency tax on cannabis products. These are already factored into the prices you see on our menu, so what you see is what you pay.
Q: Will buying cannabis show up on a background check or my employer’s record?
Purchasing cannabis from a licensed New York dispensary is legal for adults 21+ and is not a criminal record. That said, employers may have their own drug-testing policies that are separate from state law. If you have concerns, check your employee handbook or speak with HR.