New York City Gets First-Ever Legal Recreational Cannabis Dispensary

New York City is gearing up to embrace its first-ever legal cannabis dispensary. and it will be on Broadway!

The store will be called House Work Cannabis Co. and is set to open beginning December 29, 2022, at 4:20 p.m., the universally recognized time associated with indulging in the sticky plant.

The company shared the exciting news, saying “The time has finally come – New York City’s first-ever legal cannabis dispensary, Housing Works Cannabis Co, is open for business.”

Store manager Sasha Nutgent shares that “this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” for the popular state. “That said, our nonprofit's mission remains as urgent as ever. We are eager to take the lead as a social equity model for America's cannabis industry, specifically with our hiring practices and continued support of individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by the unjust War on Drugs.”

Nutgent is speaking of the African American, Latino, and other marginalized communities that have been treated unfairly due to having interactions with small amounts of cannabis and serving abusive lengths of time in the prison system for one of the least offensive drugs on the market.

Housing Works Cannabis Co is making itself pretty accessible being located at 750 on Broadway in Manhattan. In addition to the prime location, the company says that “anyone over 21 years of age” will be given “reliable access to cannabis products,” through the store.

The company has more than one goal for the shop, they don’t only want to focus on selling cannabis products, they want to pull the negative stigma away from cannabis users ( the ones outside of the jail system) “with a focus on compassion, the Housing Works Cannabis Co team hopes to move the industry with an equity-driven approach.”

CEO of Housing Works Co. Charles King said, “At our core, we're a healing community dedicated to providing housing, healthcare, and vocational programs for New Yorkers.” The company also wants to help uplift local business people by offering a space for women and community-led products.

“This opportunity will not only give our team the resources to further our overall mission but to feature and elevate products coming from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and women-led cannabis brands across the state.”

Another plus that the opening of this store is promising to bring to the community is an overall better experience for New Yorkers. Chris Alexander, Executive Director for the Office of Cannabis Management. Confirms this in his statement.

“With its history of supporting New Yorkers, particularly formerly incarcerated individuals, we're proud that Housing Works is seizing this opportunity to grow its resources and deliver more for New Yorkers.”

He goes on to say that the community will have ample opportunities to get involved. “When this store opens, consumers will have the opportunity to purchase tested, safer products grown by family farmers across New York State, reducing risk while supporting their communities.”

The state is in the good company of others who have already embraced the legal use of cannabis within their own states. So far there are 23 states that have legalized recreational cannabis use however, not all of them offer dispensaries where you can purchase the product and anything related to it.

Each state has its own laws surrounding the use, the buying and selling, and even the age requirements. For example, people over the age of 21 in Colorado can possess cannabis. There is also a sales tax to keep their weed treaty alive.

Same for Washington, over 21 can buy and possess up to an ounce of marijuana but they can’t grow their own plants at home for any reason at all. In Alaska, you can grow up to six marijuana plants in addition to the dispensaries available to buy it.

Across over in Canada, dispensaries have been popping up in towns that voted them in for the last few years. You can now buy cannabis and low-dose edibles, and drinks at your local shops.

This seems like a trend that is picking up swiftly!