New York State reached a milestone on Tuesday with the grand opening of the 50th Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) brick-and-mortar store, Brownies, located in Colonie. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes joined Brownies owner Kelly Hilland for the official opening of the dispensary for public sales.
New York now has 62 licensed adult-use cannabis retailers, a mix of CAURD licensees with storefronts, CAURD licensees providing delivery services, and adult-use dispensaries co-located with existing medical dispensaries. With the lifting of a recent injunction, New York State has more than doubled the amount of operating cannabis businesses in the last two months.
Owned by Kelly Hilland, an experienced entrepreneur and service-disabled veteran, Brownies, according to Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, stands as a beacon of progress in the State’s cannabis industry. In addition to this being the 50th brick & mortar dispensary, Brownies also is the 14th majority Black-owned dispensary in New York State, an example of New York’s goal for cannabis legalization which includes a true commitment to equity, opportunity and diversity in this market.
“Today’s opening of Brownies, the 50th Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary brick-and-mortar store in New York, signifies more than just the expansion of our cannabis market; it embodies our commitment to diversity and equity within this burgeoning industry,” said Alexander. “It’s so beautiful to be here, celebrating Black History Month while celebrating Kelly Hilland’s leadership in establishing Brownies as the 14th majority Black-owned dispensary in our state. This is a milestone that underscores the importance of inclusivity and represents a significant step forward in our mission to ensure that all communities, especially those historically marginalized, have opportunities to participate and thrive in the cannabis industry.”C
