Among one of the world’s longest running marijuana legalization events, the New York City Cannabis Parade & Rally (NYCCPR) originally began as a “Smoke-In” at Washington Square Park in 1973. Since then, the NYCCPR has made much progress, budding into a three-part event consisting of a parade march, a rally and a celebratory after party.
The event takes place annually on the first Saturday in May. Therefore, this year’s event will kick-off on Saturday, May 6th. Sister events occur worldwide on the same day as NYCCPR is the founding chapter of the Global Marijuana March.
Though the event was cancelled in 2020, a scaled-down version returned to Union Square in 2021 with a visit from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Young people are able to celebrate today without a fear that a little bit of marijuana in their pocket could ruin their lives,” he said. “More freedom, less fear,” in regards to the recent legalization of cannabis after the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act was singed into law on March 31.
“We are proud to have, for many decades, played a role in educating New Yorkers about prohibition and what needed to be done to change the state’s outdated cannabis laws,” shared the NYCCPR website. “New York has come a long way from when it was the Marijuana Arrest Capitol of the World. As we enter a new era, we must remain vigilant and keep our eyes on implementation and diversity as the cannabis industry grows in New York and across the Northeast.”
Everything you need to know about the Cannabis Parade and Rally this year
When is the event?
The event will be on Saturday, May 6th 2023
What time is the Parade
The parade will run from 11am-1pm. The march will officially kick-off at 12:30pm.
What is the Parade route
Starting at Herald Square, the route will head southbound on Broadway to reach Union Square Park at 14 Street.
When is the Rally
The rally will be in Union Square from 1-5pm.
When is the After Party
More info to come. Last year’s After Party was a private event.
As noted by the NYCCPR’s website* You can legally smoke cannabis anywhere tobacco can be used, like the street or the sidewalk. However, smoking anything in any New York City public park remains against state law and city regulation.