NYC weed dispensary pledges ‘courier pigeon’ delivery service – and the twist is ruffling feathers
The unveiling of the winged “delivery service,” purportedly set to launch in Manhattan and Brooklyn by 2026, was earmarked with a slew of bizarre videos posted to social media. The Travel Agency
A New York City cannabis dispensary pulled off a marketing stunt that’s raising eyebrows — but not in the sky. The Travel Agency, a high-end Big Apple dispensary, announced last week that it would be launching a fleet of 20 pigeons to deliver gram-sized bags of cannabis to Manhattan and Brooklyn by 2026. But according to sources, the winged delivery service is entirely fake.
“As The Travel Agency, it’s only natural we’d explore all modalities of travel for our delivery service, even pigeons,” co-founder Arana Hankin-Biggers said in a Friday press release. “Being in NYC, we thought there’s no better courier than the ever-present and beloved pigeon.”
The company posted quirky videos on social media showing the supposed pigeon fleet’s Downtown Brooklyn coop, handlers, and “training” routines — including walks along delivery paths so the birds supposedly “know where to fly.” Promotional posters outside the Union Square store also touted “cannabis carrier pigeons,” while clips on the What Is New York account featured pigeons wearing tiny backpacks, appearing to confirm the service.
Several local outlets, including Time Out, Brooklyn Eagle, and Fox 5 New York, reported on the peculiar plan. But sources told The Post Monday that the scheme was purely a marketing gimmick.
Animal welfare advocates were nonetheless displeased. The campaign suggested the pigeons would complete “symbolic delivery routes under handler supervision” and receive “official humane treatment certification.” Megan Walton of Duchess County’s Pigeons for Miles sanctuary said she was relieved the plan wasn’t real but still found the concept troubling.
“Even if it’s a joke… how long were these pigeons subjected to this campaign? How many days were they taken from their family flock?” Walton asked. She added concerns about the birds’ origins and post-campaign care, recalling incidents like the abandoned rabbits from disgraced faux heiress Anna Delvey’s August photoshoot.
“I just don’t see the humor in putting pigeons at the center of a campaign like this, almost mocking their history of exploitation,” she said. “People rarely pay attention to them except to think of ways to exploit them.”
The Travel Agency defended its approach, emphasizing animal safety. “Animal welfare was a top priority throughout production of this campaign,” the company said. “Every shot was planned in consultation with the pigeons’ handlers, their owners, and a SOS Safety On Sets© Animal Services representative. We worked exclusively with licensed professionals to receive HAT-D Humane Animal Treatment Documentation, confirming humane oversight at every step.”
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