Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the first cannabis dispensaries have opened this week in the Bronx and on Long Island, with two others coming to the Capital Region and the Southern Tier. This will bring the total of legal and licensed dispensaries in the State to 19.
"New York is leading the nation in building a new cannabis industry that advances social justice and provides economic opportunity for those who have been harmed by the inequitable enforcement of cannabis laws," Governor Hochul said. "With these new dispensaries opening in New York, we are providing safer product to New Yorkers, while furthering our ambitious goals for equity in New York's cannabis laws."
The Bronx dispensary, called Statis Cannabis Co, is supported by the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund (the Fund), the program created by Governor Hochul and adopted by the Legislature to prioritize the issuance of licenses to justice-involved individuals. Statis Cannabis Company opened for sales to the public on at 4:20 p.m., Thursday, July 6 at 817 East Tremont Avenue, The Bronx. It is operated by entrepreneurs Angel Turuseta and Emely Chavez, who received their Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses through the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Emely is a graduate of Rutgers University and New Jersey City University with a Master of Arts degree in Special Education and has been a special education teacher for over a decade. Angel is a New York City native who found opportunity as a city employee with the NYC Transit Authority.
The Long Island Dispensary, Strain Stars LLC, will open at noon on Saturday, July 8, at 1815 Broadhollow Road in Farmingdale. This dispensary will be owned and operated by Kamaldeep Singh, Tushar Mallick, Jasmin Kaur, Kamaldeep Singh, Darminder Sing, and Gurmeet Sing. For five years, Kamaldeep Singh, a justice-involved applicant, has owned & operated Whitestone Mart Inc, a gas station in Whitestone, New York with a retail storefront attached to it. Singh also holds a hemp cannabinoid retail license issued by The Office of Cannabis Management.
Converting from a delivery-only model to a full-service dispensary will be Stage One Cannabis LLC, which will open July 7 at 810C Broadway, in Rensselaer. It will be owned and operated by Nathaniel Innes, Galina German-Innes, Sugey Mirsky, and Joshua Mirsky. For 11 years Joshua Mirsky has owed & operated Foster House Studios Recording studio in Albany.
Also opening July 8 will be Exscape INC, a full-service dispensary at 1308 Vestal Parkway E, in Vestal. This dispensary will be owned and operated by Todd Hartman, also a justice-involved applicant. For 21 years, Mr. Hartman has owned & operated Designs by Pyramid, a wholesaler of tobacco and vapor products located throughout upstate New York.
Last week, Greenery opened their doors as a dispensary in Johnson City in the Southern Tier. This dispensary is owned and operated by Christopher M. Myers, Brandon R. Myers and Gregory R. Myers. For three years Gregory Myers has owned & operated Myers Security LLC, a security integration company.
These announcements come a week after Governor Hochul announced that a private investor, the Chicago Atlantic Group, has invested up to $150 million in the Fund, which was authorized by the Governor and the New York State Legislature to support the acquisition, design, construction, and outfitting of locations for cannabis dispensaries to be operated by CAURD licensees. The dispensary openings help advance New York's goals of equity in cannabis licensing that prioritizes providing licenses to justice involved individuals who have had a cannabis conviction or are a close relative of someone who has had one.
Statis Cannabis Co. is supported by the Fund and will open as a "pop-up." As with such pop-ups, this will provide licensees the opportunity to open on a short-term basis to fast-track sales and start generating capital for their businesses before closing for final construction and then re-opening on a long-term basis.
For a comprehensive list of legal, licensed New York State adult-use cannabis dispensaries, visit https://cannabis.ny.gov/
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Reuben McDaniel, III said, "I am heartened to see the first dispensary opened in the Bronx as a collaboration between the Fund, DASNY, and the Office of Cannabis Management. Located in the heart of the Bronx, this dispensary affirms New York's commitment to opening doors for individuals who have the drive and the commitment to invest in their communities and seek success for them and their families. I'm grateful for Governor Hochul's leadership in this program that addresses deeply embedded historical injustices, the extraordinary support this program has had from the Legislature, and the work of the Fund's leadership.
Statis Cofounder Angel Turuseta said, "We are grateful to DASNY, the New York Office of Cannabis Management and Governor Hochul for this incredible opportunity to not only take another step forward in righting the failed 'War on Drugs,' but also showcase what entrepreneurs like us can do when equitable policies and support are in place. We look forward to opening our permanent location right by Yankee Stadium, as well as expanding our footprint via delivery and reaching more New Yorkers in the near future."
Statis Cofounder Emely Chavez said, "With DASNY's support, Statis will provide life-changing treatments and livable-wage jobs in the community that many of us work and live in. Seeing as cannabis prohibition continues to be one of the most successful misinformation campaigns in modern American history, we also look forward to hosting educational community events that bring our community together and give back to the people of the Bronx."
Dr. Meisha Porter, President and CEO of the Bronx Community Foundation, said, "This dispensary opening brings the story of cannabis in the Bronx full circle. We all know that residents of our borough suffered disproportionately during cannabis prohibition. Now we get to write a new chapter where a new legal cannabis industry helps the Bronx overcome decades of disinvestment and help build lasting, sustainable futures for our communities. I want to thank Governor Hochul and our partners throughout the state for making this day possible."
Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management said, "As we witness the historic openings of The Bronx and Long Island's first legal dispensaries, we celebrate a significant step towards equitable access to safer cannabis. This momentous occasion not only brings economic opportunities to these communities but also represents our commitment to fostering a responsible and inclusive cannabis industry. We look forward to the positive impact these dispensaries will have on Bronx and Long Island residents, as we continue to prioritize social equity, public health, and safety while expanding the cannabis market throughout New York State."
Tremaine Wright, Chairwoman of the New York State Cannabis Control Board said, "It is great to celebrate the first legal dispensaries in The Bronx and Long Island. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and support from DASNY, New York is at the forefront of diversity in the nation's cannabis industry. These groundbreaking establishments not only provide safe and regulated environments for cannabis access but also serve as a testament to our commitment to fostering inclusive business opportunities. By supporting diverse entrepreneurs and ensuring equitable participation, we are paving the way for a vibrant and representative industry."
Damian Fagon, Chief Equity Officer of New York's Office of Cannabis Management said, "Despite making up only seven percent of New York's population, Bronx residents accounted for more than 20% of all cannabis related arrests since 1980, with over 95% of those arrested being Black or Hispanic. New York is doing the work to right these history wrongs, giving those harmed by bad policies the opportunity to build thriving businesses the right way. From The Bronx to Long Island to every corner of this State, these openings were years in the making, and I couldn't be prouder to see these entrepreneurs get their stores open."
Lavetta Willis, Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund Principal said, "As a General Principal of the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, I am honored to witness the opening of the first licensed cannabis dispensary in the Bronx, led by justice-impacted entrepreneur Angel Turuseta and co-founder Emely Chavez. This dispensary opening is a powerful step forward in our mission to prioritize equity in cannabis licensing and ensure that justice-involved individuals have the opportunity to thrive in this industry. It takes a village. The collaboration with the Governor's office, OCM, DASNY and the Chicago Atlantic Group bring these visions to life and create lasting change in our communities."
Working with Dormitory Authority of the State of New York subsidiary, the Social Equity Servicing Corporation, the Fund is a public-private limited partnership formed to position social equity entrepreneurs to succeed in New York's newly created adult use cannabis industry. Managed by Social Equity Impact Ventures, the Fund will help justice involved CAURD licensees meet the costs of establishing adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries. It is supported by up to $50 million in licensing fees and revenue from the adult-use cannabis industry and up to $150 million from the private sector.