Looking for a trip this 4/20 but don’t want to book a flight or hotel? Look no further than The Travel Agency. Not your traditional travel agency, it plays the part of your personal cannabis concierge. In fact, as one of New York City’s first legal dispensaries, The Travel Agency has already transported thousands of travelers, sans plane or passport, to their ultimate destinations.
But before sending them off, The Travel Agency’s two locations—one in Manhattan’s Union Square and the other in downtown Brooklyn—are destinations themselves. The sleek, stylish interiors are clean and inviting, the premium products are carefully tested and curated and the energy is, well, a bona fide vibe. A BIPOC-founded, purpose-driven business working to repair the damage caused by the war on drugs, it’s truly the perfect blend of cannabis culture, creativity and community all rolled up into one.
Open daily, The Travel Agency is all about transporting everyone to higher ground. On 4/20 the store will be pulling out all the stops—and trips. Whether you need an escape from stress or the Sunday scaries (don’t worry, 4/20 is on a Saturday this year), or you’re looking to find a sanctuary of your very own in this bustling city, The Travel Agency will help you get on board (and lose your baggage).
Read on for seven ways you can get away with The Travel Agency this 4/20.
Stop by The Travel Agency’s two locations all day, starting as early as 9am, to pick up your goodies and then stick around for an unforgettable mobile DJ setup aptly titled, “420 Radio,” that’s curated by Brooklyn party collective, Angel Baby. When the munchies hit, The Travel Agency’s got you covered. They’ve arranged specialty food vendors to roll by throughout the day.
If your cravings are for something with a bit more house-made kick, pop over to any of Glaze Teriyaki’s five New York locations (the Union Square eatery is just a block from the cannabis store). The Travel Agency is partnering with their Union Square friends at Glaze to create an exclusive “Glaze & Blaze” bowl in honor of 420. For the entire week leading up to the big day, stop into any The Travel Agency location to pick up a special token and get the bowl for only (you guessed it) $4.20.
If you want to get a bit more extra this holiday, visit Prospect Park for Flamer's annual 4/20 picnic from 2pm to sunset. The Travel Agency will be stopping by to support New York’s hottest queer-owned cannabis brand, but—in addition to getting lit in the open air—you can also enjoy sound baths and meditations led by Weed Auntie. (If you want more self-care, wind down from 4/20 with a day-after Weed and Wellness event at THC NYC for fitness classes, cutting-edge recovery activations, workshops and guest speakers.)
Did you know that the Brooklyn store is owned by those who’ve experienced cannabis-related injustices? Or that the Union Square location directs more than half its profits to The Doe Fund, which provides housing, employment and support services to those who’ve experienced homelessness and incarceration? The Travel Agency also powers local events like Chala June's Blessed & Highly Flavored Black History Month Dinner and Rage & Release's Tuesday night runs, and they carry queer, BIPOC and women-owned brands. By shopping at The Travel Agency, you’re supporting entire communities.
Whether it’s your first visit or your 420th, there’s still a lot to learn about cannabis. Sure, you might know the difference between Indica and Sativa, but do you know your preferred terpene profile? In-store “budtenders” (think: baristas for cannabis) can help. With 40 hours of training and ongoing weekly classes, they are highly attuned at matching you with the experience you are looking for.
There’s no better place for people-watching than the main floor of The Travel Agency. If you’re paying attention, you’ll most certainly see one of the store’s many celebrity fans popping by for a purchase. Recent famous guests include Aaron Paul, Bobby Shmurda, Gavin Rossdale, Zaldy and, ahem, Whoopi Goldberg. Last year, Amy Sedaris even took over the dispensary as a guest travel agent by offering her favorite flower suggestions and hocking her own line of custom lighters. More recently, Sarah Silverman filmed a hilarious segment for The Daily Show that begged the question: “Is legal weed still cool?” Hard yes, Sarah.
It can be difficult to believe that you can legally celebrate 4/20, so The Travel Agency has a dedicated blog to demystify the market. Get your frequently asked questions answered and find out where you are safe to smoke in New York (the answer might surprise you). And if you want to take it to the next level, join The Travel Agency’s travel club—a mile high club of sorts. You’ll have access to new products, premier bundles and member-only events and offerings. What better 420 gift is there?