W42ST
Hell's Kitchen attitude, New York state of mind
A new billboard finding a home on 8th Avenue is unlikely to make headlines – unless that is, it’s advertising cannabis. The sign bearing a simple message appeared late last year above Beer Authority, in the shadow of the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 8th Avenue and W40th Street.
It reads: “We deliver cannabis,” and gives the opening hours and address of Indoor Treez. And that’s a problem, because billboards advertising cannabis businesses are prohibited under New York State Law.
In a January 2 email, the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) reminded dispensary owners of recent amendments to state law that prohibit signs larger than 55 square feet within 100 yards of a licensed business, or 16 square feet when located more than 100 yards away. Indoor Treez sits between W38th and W39th Streets — just a block down 8th Avenue from its new billboard. The email added that all billboards must be removed by February 24, at which point OCM will begin enforcement measures.
Hell’s Kitchen’s first licensed cannabis dispensary, Indoor Treez opened in May 2025, paving the way for five more to follow. After receiving one of the state’s first provisional licenses to sell marijuana in 2022, owners Fikri Nagi and Wesim Alsaidi struggled to find a storefront, telling W42ST in May 2024 that many landlords were unaware cannabis sales had been legalized.
There have been growing pains since cannabis sales were given the green light in New York. Last July, the New York Times reported that more than 100 licensed cannabis dispensaries opened within 500 feet of New York City schools, breaking state law, because OCM regulators were measuring door-to-door and not between property lines.
On December 16, Manhattan Community Board 4 wrote a letter asking legal cannabis dispensaries in the neighborhood to comply with OCM rules, specifically calling out neon signage, amplified sound outside business premises and advertising near to schools or on city property.
For now, the billboard remains – and we’ll report back if it’s still standing after February 24. Indoor Treez did not respond to W42ST’s request for an interview.
Brennan LaBrie is a Manhattan-based multimedia journalist who originally hails from Washington State. He began reporting in elementary school, when he published a handwritten weekly paper covering local news for three years, and reported on events like the 2010 Winter Olympics for TIME For Kids. He returned to journalism in college, reporting for the school paper and his hometown newspaper during summer breaks. He also co-directed three feature documentaries, one of which received a 2021 College Emmy. He moved to New York City in 2022, and, following a stint as a server in fine dining restaurants, began freelancing for publications around the city. His favorite topics to cover are urban development, housing, education and environmental issues, and his work can be found in The Rockaway Wave and the BK Reader.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
W42ST is a hyperlocal media brand celebrating Hell’s Kitchen. We use high-quality journalism to keep residents, visitors, business owners, and workers in-the-know about what’s happening in the fastest-growing, most authentic area of New York City. With every story we build genuine trust and ensure that this community is connected and invested.
Contact Us
KOB Publishing LLC
340 W 42nd Street #2256
New York, NY 10108
admin@w42st.com
Subscribe
Sign in by entering the code we sent to , or clicking the magic link in the email.
Terms and Privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Get the best of W42ST directly in your email inbox.
Sending to:
You must be logged in to post a comment.