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When it opened just before 4/20 in the spring of 2023, the House of Cannabis held a lot of promise. The first of its kind at this scale, the museum packed every inch of its four-story, 25,000-square-foot space at 427 Broadway with fascinating facts and delightful immersive experiences fit to entertain both tokers and non-smokers alike.
More commonly known as THC NYC, this weed museum in Soho boasted mind-bending multi-sensory installations, showcased art, highlighted science and confronted the social justice issues baked into cannabis prosecution. But now, just two years later, the museum appears to be closed.
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At the site, a sign outside now proclaims “retail space for lease.” Though THC NYC signage is still present in the windows, the space appears dark inside. There’s a layer of dirt on the building's green paint and some graffiti. The museum’s website no longer works, its Instagram has vanished, and calling its phone number returns an automated message saying the number doesn’t work.
Though the THC NYC Facebook page still exists, it was last updated in fall 2024. Its header image, posted in March 2023, still reads “opening soon.”
It’s the latest museum to leave the city. The Rubin went to a “decentralized” model in 2024, meaning that it still exists, just not in its own physical space. The NYC Fire Museum closed a year ago because of structural concerns and has yet to re-open. Photography museum Fotografiska closed in the fall, though it is expected to re-open elsewhere in the future.
As for THC NYC, there was no announcement about its apparent closure. It simply disappeared and not even in a puff of smoke.
When the museum debuted, it was perfect timing: Recreational weed had just become legal in New York. Though visitors were not permitted to use cannabis onsite, they were able to purchase it at kiosks in the lobby to take to-go.
The museum didn't shy away from important topics, such as social justice issues. One exhibit highlighted real New Yorkers describing how cannabis punishment disproportionately affects people of color. It also offered truly immersive experiences, including a massive spinning record you can sit or lay on while listening to music, from The Doors to Santana. There was even a space called The Hypnodrome, a trippy video installation showing the brainwaves of someone while smoking weed.
When was open, THC NYC lit up its building with appropriately green lights, but now the lights at this Soho spot have burned out. If you're looking for other places to celebrate 4/20 this year, here’s our full list for the high holiday and some of our favorite cannabis retail shops.