WGVA 106.3FM 1240AMMix 98.5101.7 The WallWFLR Finger Lakes Country Classic Hits 99.3The Lake 100.1/104.5 WAUB 96.3FM 1590AM

First NY Cannabis Dispensary Owned by a “Justice Impacted Individual” To Open Tuesday

SHARE NOW

The first Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license in New York State, owned by an entrepreneur previously criminalized by cannabis prohibition and supported by the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, will open at 144 Bleecker Street in Manhattan on Tuesday. This store opening helps advance New York’s goals of equity in cannabis licensing, which prioritizes providing licenses to justice-involved individuals, who are people with a cannabis conviction or a close relative of someone with one.

“This dispensary is the latest example of our efforts to build the most equitable and inclusive cannabis industry in the nation,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “As we continue to work toward righting wrongs of the past, I look forward to new dispensaries – owned by those most impacted by the over policing of cannabis prohibition – opening soon.”

The dispensary, called Smacked LLC, will be owned and operated by Roland Conner with a soft opening as a “Pop-up” through February 20. As with some other initial dispensaries to be supported by the Fund, this will provide licensees the opportunity to open on a short-term basis to fast-track sales and start generating capital for their businesses, after which they will close for final construction and then re-open on a long-term basis.

The Pop-up program is designed to give the operator initial training opportunities before opening full-time, and will benefit all businesses involved in the cannabis supply chain, including farmers who have cannabis ready for distribution, processors who are making cannabis into other types of products, distributors, and retail operators, as well as consumers who are seeking access to safer products they can trust.

Prior to receiving this license, Roland Conner owned and operated property management businesses in New York City for fifteen years. He currently manages a transitional housing facility providing shelter for two dozen men in The Bronx. Mr. Conner is opening Smacked LLC with his son and wife. In applying for his license, Mr. Conner received support from the Bronx Cannabis Hub, which was founded by the Bronx Defenders and the Bronx Community Foundation to support individuals applying for the first round of CAURD licenses.

To date, there are several locations available and ready for initial design and build out for CAURD licensees. The Fund will be making announcements of these locations on a rolling basis

Get the top stories on your radio 24/7 on Finger Lakes News Radio 96.3 and 1590, WAUB and 106.3 and 1240, WGVA, and on Finger Lakes Country, 96.1/96.9/101.9/1570 WFLR.

More Top Stories

More

Get the top stories on your radio 24/7 on Finger Lakes News Radio 96.3 and 1590, WAUB and 106.3 and 1240, WGVA, and on Finger Lakes Country, 96.1/96.9/101.9/1570 WFLR.