Smoke & Needles

Photo essay for New York University photojournalism intensive

May 2025

Addiction NYC is a licensed tattoo and smoke accessory shop in Manhattan's East Village – and also an unlicensed marijuana dispensary. Located on St Mark's Place, a street bustling well into the night, Addiction stays open later than all other tattoo shops in the area.

Addiction NYC offers tattoos from four resident artists, as well as a variety of guest artists, in both color and black and white. The artists often work with customers to design custom tattoos, in addition to the shop’s flash tattoo options.

Though Addiction applied for a dispensary license last year, they have yet to hear back on their application. Since the pandemic, the NYPD has begun to crack down on unlicensed dispensaries. Customers frequently come into the shop asking for "top shelf," but any unfamiliar faces are turned away, as the shop cannot risk selling to an undercover police officer. 

Addiction is a vibrant gathering space for employee's friends and partners. Many locals have been hanging around the shop for years, while customers often stop by for a quick, spur-of-the-moment tattoo.

  • Walking down the busy East Village street of St Mark's Place, you will pass Addiction NYC, a shop ready to meet all of your tattoo and smoke accessory needs.

  • Addiction's tattoo and smoke accessory services are advertised on bright red signage. Their unlicensed marijuana dispensary services are not. Chris is one of two employees in charge of dispensary sales at Addiction.

  • Paola is visiting from Rome. She wanted a tattoo to commemorate her first solo trip to “one of the most dangerous cities in the world.”

  • Ellie comes into the shop on a rainy Wednesday, requesting a Banksy tattoo. Ellie’s father is a fan of Banksy’s work.

  • In the evening, St Marks Place begins to fill up with New Yorkers ready for a night out. Chris stands outside to people watch and practice juggling.

  • Smoke accessories are sold in the front room of Addiction, while Marijuana is kept in a back room. Police raids of unlicensed dispensaries are becoming more frequent every summer.

  • Karla, one of Addiction’s tattoo artists, comes into the shop on her day off to purchase a joint. Karla and her friend Helen smoke in front of the shop, watching passersby.

  • Nicole places a tattoo stencil on Sophia.

  • The new tattoo will act as a coverup for one that Sophia received years ago. During the tattoo, Sophia and Nicole discuss their experiences with the pandemic.

  • St Mark’s Place is a common hangout spot for the village’s punk community. Many are also friends with the workers at Addiction, making Addiction a gathering space.

  • Moe and Chris are both from Queens. Moe does not work at Addiction, but is often here to keep his employee friends company.

  • Ian is receiving a tattoo on the back of his calf.

  • Nicole finishes up the shading on a tattoo, wiping away the blood.

  • Max, a tattoo artist at Addiction, applies second skin to protect Paola’s tattoo during the first few days of healing.

  • The shop is quiet on weekday evenings. Nicole finishes up a tattoo.