New York City's first permanent cannabis museum, The House of Cannabis, has officially opened its doors, offering an intriguing, educational, and immersive experience focusing on the plant's history and cultural impact.
PEOPLE spoke with CEO and co-founder Robert Frey, who, along with his wife and co-founder Marcelle, brought their vision to life. "We thought it'd be a great opportunity to come to New York with the cannabis market about to really take off here and become the epicenter for cannabis in America," Frey explains during a tour of the venue.
The House of Cannabis (THC NYC) operates as a "cultural center" for both tourists and locals to learn more about cannabis and its influence on art, film, fashion, and music. The museum is also dedicated to making a positive impact by partnering with A Second U Foundation, employing 20% of its workforce from formerly incarcerated individuals.
The museum, housed in a landmark 1910 SoHo building, features ten captivating exhibits that educate and mesmerize visitors. The first floor includes a glass-blowing station, a café offering coffee from Jamaican roaster Sangsters, and a gift shop selling unique merchandise. However, the venue does not offer cannabis for sale.
Exhibits include "Disorientation," which uses multimedia to present a visual timeline of cannabis history from its origins 6,000 years ago to the present day, and "The Euphorium," where visitors can relax on a spinning LP while listening to nostalgic music synchronized with a light installation.
"The Forum" delves into issues of marijuana law enforcement in New York City and the impacts of race, while "The Joint" displays artwork related to cannabis culture, and "The Grow" showcases the cultivation of live cannabis plants. Other exhibits include "The Microverse," "The Olfactory," "Seed to Soul," "The Spot," and "The Hypnodrome," each offering unique, interactive experiences for museum-goers.
The House of Cannabis is a must-visit destination for those curious about cannabis culture and its historical and societal impacts, offering an immersive and educational journey into the world of this fascinating plant.