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Here’s how to find your pot o’ goal during the World Cup.
State cannabis regulators are launching an education campaign to instruct the thousands of local tourists and fans readying for the World Cup on how to access and safely use local legal weed.
“We certainly don’t want to see any adverse events,” said John Kagia, executive director of the state Office of Cannabis Management.
“It’s really important to access the legal market in a responsible manner.”
The world’s largest sporting event will hold eight local soccer matches from June 11 to July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with throngs of watch parties planned, too.
There are meanwhile more than 200 licensed cannabis dispensaries in and around New York City — meaning the epic sports event is a big opportunity for the state’s growing marijuana market to score, too, proponents say.
“The FIFA World Cup may become the event that officially introduces many international visitors to New York’s legal cannabis industry,” the website STUPID DOPE noted in a post Saturday.
“The overlap between tourism and cannabis culture presents a powerful opportunity for licensed operators.”
Kagia, touting his state’s ganja, boasted, “We have great cannabis products in New York.”
But visitors must first determine if a local cannabis merchant is legitimate.
They can look for a state OCM license sticker affixed to the front door or window of a business. It indicates if the shop is lawful and selling state-tested and approved cannabis, Kagia said.
He warned that marijuana from illegal black-market shops is not tested and could be laced with other drugs or chemicals.
There are still many illegal pot peddlers in the streets and online.
Cannabis users also should be aware that New York has laws that prohibit smoking in public venues, and that includes pot as well as cigarettes. That means people should not smoke marijuana during watch parties at public locations.
“Be mindful and respectful and good neighbors. Be discreet,” Kagia said. “We want fans to be particularly mindful that there are young families with children at these events.”
Additionally, Kagia cautioned travelers not to bring cannabis to or from New York by air because it’s prohibited under federal law.
“They should not travel with cannabis outside the state,” he said.
STUPID DOPE said, “For legal dispensaries throughout New York City and the surrounding metropolitan area, FIFA World Cup 2026 represents far more than a sporting event.
“It represents weeks of elevated consumer activity, increased tourism, massive watch-party culture, and an unprecedented opportunity to introduce visitors from around the world to New York’s rapidly growing legal cannabis market.”
Aside from watch events at bars and restaurants and government-sponsored venues, there will be World Cup parties at apartments, on rooftops, during backyard barbecues and corporate events and for tourists at hotels and short-term rentals, the site noted.
That means cannabis dispensaries that also provide delivery services should be able to make a lot of green, too.
“Many consumers will be looking for convenience,” it said.
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