Hell’s Kitchen Gets Lit: Adult-Use Dispensary 'Cannadreams' Now Open

HELL’S KITCHEN, NY – Cannadreams, a legal adult-use cannabis dispensary, is now open, according to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

Located at 862 9th Avenue at the corner of 56th Street in a space formerly occupied by Bar Veloce, Cannadreams opened on Thursday, Aug. 8, and is now open 7 days a week.

The store is roughly three blocks from Columbus Circle.

For Smokers, Few Legal Options

Cannadreams is only the second legal adult-use dispensary in the 10019 zip code. The other is Nicklz, which is almost 10 blocks away at 797 8th Avenue.

Further uptown, in the Upper West Side, Patch can only spot two – legal – dispensaries: Flower Power Dispensaries, at 22 W. 66th Street, and Just A Little Higher, at 157 W. 72nd Street.

According to the state's website, there are no legal adult-use dispensaries in the 10024 or 10025 zip codes, which means that smokers on most of Manhattan’s West Side, from 34th Street to 110th Street, are served by a mere handful of legal stores.

In fact, there appear to be just 30 legal adult-use cannabis dispensaries in Manhattan, and 161 statewide. See for yourself here.

As of earlier this year, there were nearly 3,000 illegal cannabis retailers scattered across the city, although a recent city crackdown has made a dent in that number. In Manhattan alone, 200 illegal stores have reportedly been shuttered.

Neighborhood Concerns

The neighborhood wasn't entirely supportive of Cannadreams opening, according to local news outlet W42ST, which covered the Manhattan Community Board 4 meeting where the store’s application was discussed.

Per state law, community boards have the ability to express an opinion for or against the granting of licenses for adult-use cannabis dispensaries and/or on-site consumption sites. The process is similar to how community boards submit recommendations for or against a business's application during the New York State Liquor Authority license application process.

While a recommendation isn’t binding, the board's vote does become part of the record used by agencies in deciding whether or not to approve an application under consideration.

Back in February, Community Board 4 voted to approve Cannadreams' application.

“MCB4 votes to approve [Cannadreams] despite its immense frustration with the continued
proliferation of illegal smoke-shops and dispensaries in our district,” the community board wrote, in a letter dated Feb. 26. “Although MCB4 does not believe that those who have followed the law by waiting for a license, such as [Cannadreams], should be penalized for the illegal acts of others, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recommend approval on blocks already saturated with such illicit dispensaries.”

Ultimately, the board was content with Cannadreams’ application, writing “MCB4 is
optimistic that the proposed location is not incompatible with the immediate surrounding
neighborhood, and that the granting of this applicant’s full dispensary license would not
negatively impact the community.”

Attempts to reach Cannadreams on Friday were not successful.