This week’s episode is personal and very exciting.
It’s my very first live recording, and it took place in the very shop where my conscious cannabis journey began back in 2017: The Alchemist’s Kitchen, a plant-filled portal in downtown Manhattan.
TL;DR EP09
This conversation explores:
🍃 The evolution of cannabis in NYC, from taboo to trendy
🌀 Why today’s weed products are often too strong, and how to use them more mindfully
🌿 The rise of cannabis-infused foods and drinks, and what that means for the future of plant medicine
🧠 The role of mindset, access, and education in building a conscious cannabis culture
🌍 Why New York’s legal market still has a long way to go, and who’s actually growing the best flower (spoiler: not NYC)
Lou and I share a belief: plant medicine is most powerful when it’s integrated. When it’s part of a larger practice of presence, healing, and connection. This episode reflects that spirit.
A Plant Portal in SoHo
If you’ve ever stepped inside The Alchemist’s Kitchen, you know it’s more than an herbal apothecary. It’s a portal.
The shelves are lined with tinctures, tonics, adaptogens, and functional fungi. The staff is trained in herbalism and ready to talk through what’s going on in your body or mind. And the vibe? Grounded, intentional, and alive with plant energy.
Back in 2017, I was dealing with a herniated disc in my neck, facing chronic pain, inflammation, and severe immobility. After a revealing MRI, my doctor prescribed quarterly cortisone epidurals and daily Valium to help me relax and sleep.
But I was 27 and knew this couldn’t be my long-term plan. I didn’t want to be dependent on pharmaceuticals at such a young age.
The Year of CBD
CBD was everywhere in 2017—infused into lattes, pizza, and promoted as a miracle remedy for everything, especially inflammation. So, I decided to try my favorite plant in a totally new way.
I walked into The Alchemist’s Kitchen and bought my first high-dose CBD oil and topical, following a daily regimen recommended by one of their in-house herbalists. It worked. I was able to wean off Valium, sleep through the night, and reduce the inflammation in my neck.
I was shocked and I became obsessed.
I started taking cannabis science classes in the basement of the old shop, and found myself spiraling deeper into curiosity, healing, and reverence.
The Alchemist’s Kitchen didn’t just help me feel better, it transformed my relationship with cannabis. I’d experienced its calming effects for anxiety before, and I knew it had medicinal potential, but this was the first time I used it to heal a physical ailment. The results were undeniable. The improvement in my neck pain, combined with the thoughtful guidance of the herbalists, helped me see cannabis in a completely new light, as medicine, as a powerful plant ally, and as a teacher.
It was the first place I encountered where cannabis sat alongside reishi and ashwagandha—not in a dispensary case, but in an herbalist’s toolkit.
So when Lou Sagar, the founder and CEO, invited me to record a Higher Spirits episode in the shop, it felt like a full-circle moment.
Meet Lou Sagar
Lou Sagar is more than a founder, he’s a steward.
A born-and-bred New Yorker, Lou created The Alchemist’s Kitchen to bridge modern wellness with ancestral plant traditions. For years, he’s helped thousands of New Yorkers build meaningful relationships with cannabis and other healing herbs, always with intention, education, and deep respect.
Through in-store consultations, microdosing guidance, and community programming, Lou has witnessed cannabis culture evolve in real time. His wisdom is rooted in lived experience.
A Note on the Audio
Since this was my first live recording (in a beautiful, echoey SoHo space), the audio isn’t perfect. Some words drop, but the wisdom rings through. Thank you for bearing with me, I’m learning and growing with each episode!
Listen + Learn
🎧 Episode 09: “Is There Still Magic in NYC’s Cannabis Culture?”
→ SPOTIFY
→ YOUTUBE
🌿 Follow The Alchemist’s Kitchen
☀️ Connect with me
Thank you for being on this journey with me. I hope this episode reminds you, like it reminded me, that there’s still magic to be found in the city, in the plants, and in the spaces that bring us back to ourselves.
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