Somewhere in the East Village, a pizza joint slings cannabis-infused pies in a speakeasy-like environment.
Stoned Gourmet Cannabis Pizza the brainchild of the so-called “Pizza Pusha” Chris Barrett has operated in a sort of gray area since it opened last October. Reservations are made by direct messaging with a private Instagram account, which captures photos of guests lighting joints and dining on THC-infused pepperoni pizza and “Ganja” (Garlic) Knots. On one wall is a red neon sign that reads “Either light up or leave me alone.” And police have, thus far, looked the other way.
The establishment is one of an unknown number of underground marijuana speakeasies in the city. But with recreational marijuana now legal in New York, those businesses may be able to emerge from the darkness and enter a retail landscape that’s desperate for business.