Hochul Touts Westchester's First Legal Marijuana Dispensary

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Elevate in Mount Vernon is among nearly 40 adult-use marijuana dispensaries to open in 2023.

Gov. Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of a dozen new adult-use dispensaries from Brooklyn to Buffalo as the state continues to expand the legal adult-use cannabis market and welcome new operators.

"As New York expands the most equitable cannabis market in the nation, my administration remains committed to building a safe industry for all New Yorkers that will grow our small business community," Hochul said. "These new dispensaries continue our mission of strengthening our legal market while at the same time helping to push out the bad actors who skirt our laws and undermine all we are trying to accomplish."

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By the end of December, New York expects having at least 37 adult-use dispensaries open for business. At these legal adult-use dispensaries, customers have access to licensed cannabis products produced, grown, and tested to meet state safety standards.

Among these dispensaries, Hochul said, eight are majority Black-owned, five are Hispanic-owned, and nine are women-owned, highlighting New York's commitment to fostering a representative and inclusive cannabis market.

According to industry research, cited by the governor's office, fewer than 20 out of the 10,000 medical and adult-use cannabis retail shops across the country are majority Black-owned —meaning less than 0.2 percent of all dispensaries in the U.S. are Black-owned. In New York, however, over 20 percent of adult-use dispensaries are majority Black-owned.

Two different court-ordered injunctions delayed rollout of legal pot shops. Legal challenges to cannabis social equity programs that gave licensing preference to groups who were hurt the most by marijuana-related prosecutions were only overcome in recent weeks.

"This is going to be a busy and exciting month for New York cannabis as over a dozen licensees finally get the chance to open their doors for business," NY Office of Cannabis Management Director Chris Alexander said. "What's particularly heartening is not just seeing these stores open, but seeing who is operating them. Before the end of the year, we will have 12 Black-owned dispensaries operating and 5 Hispanic-Owned dispensaries. Considering the national landscape, where Black and brown ownership in cannabis is exceedingly rare, I am incredibly proud of this result. This isn't just about numbers; it's a clear indication of our dedication to creating a more equitable and inclusive cannabis industry."

In May, Governor Hochul passed legislation intended to curtail storefronts selling cannabis without a license. Since June, enforcement officers from the Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance have been inspecting shops, seizing products, and padlocking unlicensed stores. In total, the combined effort has inspected 350 locations, 88 of which have been re-inspected, yielding over 11,000 pounds of seized illicit cannabis worth more than $54 million. Investigators have vowed to continue inspections each and every week across the New York.

"This month’s dispensary openings provide a reassuring boost to our commitment to build an equitable industry," New York State Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright said. "New York State is home to the most diverse pool of dispensary owners. We congratulate all of our new owners and look forward to continuing our efforts to grow an inclusive and innovative cannabis market."

A list of locations who have either recently opened their doors or are set to open for business in the coming weeks:

Mid-Hudson Region:

• Elevate – 127 S Terrace Ave, Mt Vernon 10550, (Opened on Monday, December 11, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Westchester County and Mid-Hudson Region

New York City

The Bronx:

• Hush – 2460 Williamsbridge Rd Fl 1, Bronx 10469, (Opened on Thursday, December 14, 2023)

Brooklyn:

• Grow Together – 2370 Coney Island Ave., Brooklyn 11223, (Opening Tuesday, December 19, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Brooklyn, Black-Owned

Manhattan:

• Dagmar Cannabis – 412 W Broadway, NY 10012, (Opening on Friday, Dec 15, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in SoHo, woman-owned
• THC Herbal Care – 1412 Lexington Ave., New York 10128, (Tentative opening, January 4, 2024), the first adult-use dispensary in Upper East Side

Capital Region:

• 420 Bliss – 740 Hoosick St., Brunswick 12180, (Opened on Thursday, December 7, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Brunswick, Black-owned
• Capital District Wellness – 997 Central Ave Suite 200, Albany 12205, (Opened on Friday, December 8, 2023)
• Amsterdam Cannabis – 1451 State Highway 5S, Amsterdam 12010, (Opened on Friday, December 9, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Amsterdam

Long Island:

• Happy Days – 105 Route 109, Farmingdale 11735, (Tentative Opening on Saturday, December 23, 2023)

Western New York:

• Premier Earth Corp – 1297 Hertel Ave, Buffalo 14216, (Opened on Wednesday, December 13, 2023)

Finger Lakes:

• MJ Dispensary – 900 Jefferson Rd Ste 902, Rochester 14623, (Opened on Tuesday, December 12, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Rochester

North Country:

• The Highest Peak – Village of Potsdam, 5 Market St., Potsdam 13676, (Opened on Thursday, December 7, 2023), the first adult-use dispensary in Potsdam, woman-owned
• The Firehaus – 7479 US Highway 11, Potsdam 13676, (Opened Wednesday, December 13, 2023)

New York offers easy ways to identify legal cannabis dispensaries, using the New York Cannabis Dispensary Location finder online or look for the verification sticker tool found on legal dispensary windows.

New Yorkers can report unlicensed shops in their communities by using the New York Cannabis Incident Reporting portal.