Large neon sign welcoming guests into the museum is one of the many photo-ops. Photo from Time Out.
It’s time to change the way we see museums and cannabis. An unusual pair with different vibes, putting the two together creates the ultimate experience while providing a deeper understanding of the plant.
Located in New York City is a unique, interactive, and sensational museum featuring all things cannabis. The Stone Age is a cannabis-inspired museum designed to give visitors a sensorial journey. The exhibit explores, educates, and uplifts cannabis through visual features.
According to their website, The Stone Age is a “multi-sensorial journey” that explores the connections between cannabis and it’s consumers. In addition, the museum advocates for those who fell victim to the War on Drugs, showcasing art from formerly incarcerated artists.
The museum, which is located in Manhattan, is “where cannabis meets art, culture, and advocacy,” according to The Stone Age.
The Stone Age takes cannabis to a whole new level, showcasing the plant and its capabilities in an entirely different way.
Post from @welcomethestoneage on Instagram.
Guests so far have included cannabis legend Steven DeAngelo, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Dave East and more.
About the Exhibit
Creators and producers Elizabeth Santana and Sasha Perelman created this exhibit with the goal of de-stigmatizing cannabis while providing their visitors with a fun experience.
Instagram post from @welcomethestoneage on Instagram.
Non-consumers and those who have never used cannabis should not shy away from this museum, as everyone can benefit from visiting. This museum is an opportunity to learn more about the plant. The artwork and engaging exhibits are fit for everyone over 18 years old.
This exhibit allows those who don’t consume to reap the benefits of the plant, as well as give all it’s visitors a deeper understanding of cannabis. As Insider explains, one visitor wrote they would love to have been high for an enhanced experience, but still “felt a wave of calm” as she explored the space.
Santana and Perelman encourage guests to come high, but emphasize that the experience is about more than getting stoned.
For example, when visitors attend The Stone Age, they should expect entrancing light exhibits, sensational works of art, and loads of information on the medicinal plant. According to its founders, upon entering the museum, guests are greeted by a light tunnel that begins their experience.
While the entire museum is filled with fun and extraordinary displays, some of the most stand-out features are the motion-activated paint screen, education timeline about the War On Drugs, and product samples, plus a gift shop. Additionally, there’s a dj booth that allows visitors to make their own beats.
The Artists
Instagram post from @welcomethestoneage on Instagram.
The museum’s artwork serves a higher purpose than just being enjoyable to look at. For instance, formerly incarcerated artists create most of the pieces. All of the artwork highlights important issues in our society, like the disproportionate incarceration of Black people.
The Stone Age selected local and formerly incarcerated artists for the majority of the exhibits. From set design to the murals, they worked with 10+ local artists, such as Gigi Chen, Adam Kiyosha Fujita, who is the artist behind the graffiti-neon “High” sign, and video artist Mauricio Ceppi.
Instagram post from @welcomethestoneage on Instagram.
Evoking Emotions
The exhibit’s coordinators deliberately chose artwork that brings people together and appeals to society through cannabis. For example, each room in the museum is centered around a different emotion. The art in the room is representative of six emotions: arousal, euphoria, creativity, pain, mindfulness, and awareness.
Each of these rooms features displays that are inspired by the specific emotion. It also provides context to these states of being and cannabis. For example, the arousal exhibit contains a pendulum swinging over a bed of matches, representing anticipation, Perelman told Insider. There are a variety of other pieces showcasing the states of arousal and how cannabis plays into them.
The room representing euphoria has entrancing geodes and greenery that encourage happiness. Additionally, the creativity exhibit allows visitors to get in touch with their artistic side through interactive art work, photo ops, and inspiring murals.
The pain portion of this cannabis museum focuses on the opioid pandemic, pain medicines and holistic remedies. Furthermore, the mindfulness room teaches ways to practice self care and be more mindful in everyday life.
Instagram post from @welcomethestoneage on Instagram.
The awareness section is dedicated to cannabis, the legal system, and how consumers are affected by drug laws. It features artwork from inmates and formerly incarcerated artists, some of which visitors can purchase. Proceeds go directly to the artist. It also draws attention to the War on Drugs and how people of color are more affected than white people when it comes to drug charges.
Instagram post from @welcomethestoneage on Instagram.
More Than Just A Museum
The Stone Age and it’s founders strive to bring justice to those that fell victim to strict laws on cannabis and faced lengthy sentences. They feature exhibits on the justice system and how it affects cannabis users.
The founders believe that cannabis and art unite people as well as bring attention to conflicts people face everyday.
For this reason, The Stone Age partnered with The Last Prisoner Project, an organization that works towards decriminalizing cannabis and fights for justice against cruel drug policy.
As mentioned on their website, the museum employs formerly incarcerated artists, production members, and other team members. In addition, they donate a portion of sales to The Last Prisoner Project and encourage guests to donate throughout the exhibit.
As women and minority founders, they understand the value in representing people of color in all industries. They also employ many minority artists.
The art brings attention to the wrongful incarceration of people due to strict drug policy, as well as the effects of the War on Drugs. On their website, Santana stated that they are dedicated to getting to the root of the problem that is the criminalization of cannabis, and make sure there is a valid reason behind cannabis-related arrests.
Perelman told Insider that they wanted to draw attention to the fact that the War on Drugs disproportionately affects people of color. They were sure to include this as part of the history of cannabis.
One exhibit features a jail cell with tallies marking the entire wall, representing an unnecessarily long prison sentence for drug charges. While everyone will experience a different emotion, the creators hope to evoke a sense of empathy and understanding of the severity of the criminalization of cannabis.
The jail cell featured at The Stone Age, photo from celebstoner.com.
Showcasing the Effects of Plant Prohibition
Post from @welcomethestoneage on Instagram.
Visitors should prepare for a highly interactive and thought-provoking experience.
The Stone Age was created to get audiences thinking, learning, and doing, while having a blast.
Santana told Forbes that they want to ensure guests “walk away feeling inspired, empowered, and curious about the plant in unimaginable ways.”
On the website, the creators refer to The Stone Age as a platform that allows attendees to see cannabis in a different way. They describe it as an “enlightened perspective” on cannabis as well as the role it plays in society.
It creates a comfortable experience to educate visitors on the history of cannabis and drugs, it’s effects on society as well as the human body, and the culture behind it all. In addition, the museum features loads of interactive exhibits, allowing visitors to physically experience the space, rather than just read information off the wall or look at artwork.
What to Know
Everyone 18 years old or older can attend this museum. Simply go to their website to purchase tickets and reserve a time slot. Tickets start at $45 per person. Proof of vaccination is required.
There is no smoking of any kind at the event, including e-cigarettes. Only small bags are permitted and no outside food or drinks are allowed.
Be ready to snap some pictures, there are plenty of photo-ops throughout the museum.
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