By Long Island’s first legal recreational cannabis business cut the ribbon and opened for business last week, marking another milestone in New York’s growing adult cannabis market.
The pharmacy, called Strain Stars, opened Saturday in Farmingdale, New York.
“It’s been a long road,” says Kamaldeep Singh, the shop’s owner. told local news station FOX5 New York.. “And I’m glad I did.”
According to the agency, “Hundreds” of customers lined up for the store to open under the scorching sun.
News 12 Long Island reported He said the grand opening “had DJs, food trucks and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.”
New York State will legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older in the spring of 2021. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law.
Some of the measures went into effect immediately, but the most notable was that adults were allowed to smoke cannabis. But it took time for the state-regulated market to take shape.
After Cuomo stepped down in August 2021, Kathy Hochul became the state’s first female governor and made it a priority to quickly get an adult cannabis program up and running.
Late last year, the first legal adult pharmacy opened in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood, followed by other retail stores in Manhattan.
But other boroughs of New York City have had to wait longer for their own legal cannabis businesses, as have certain areas of upstate New York.
Part of the reason was an injunction by a federal judge that stopped the state from issuing licenses to various areas such as Brooklyn and western New York.
But the injunction was partially lifted in March, clearing the way for the state to issue licenses in Brooklyn and elsewhere.
That same month, the first legal cannabis dispensary opened in Queens, New York City. And in addition to opening businesses on Long Island, another borough of New York City, the Bronx, also opened last week.
“New York State is leading the nation in building a new cannabis industry that promotes social justice and provides economic opportunities for those harmed by unjust enforcement of cannabis laws,” said Hochul. Said It said in a statement last week about the opening of two stores. “With these new dispensaries opening in New York, we are providing New Yorkers with safer products while advancing the ambitious goal of fairness in New York’s cannabis law.”
The opening of retail stores in the Bronx and Long Island “brings the total number of legal and licensed pharmacies in the state to 19,” Hochul’s office said.
“We witness the historic opening of the first legal dispensaries in the Bronx and Long Island and celebrate an important step towards equitable access to safer cannabis. It represents our commitment to not only bring opportunity, but foster a responsible and inclusive cannabis industry.We are committed to social equity, public health and safety while expanding the cannabis market throughout New York State. We look forward to the positive impact these pharmacies have on residents of the Bronx and Long Island as we continue to prioritize ,” said pharmacy executive director Chris Alexander. New York State Cannabis Authority.
New York State Cannabis Control Commission Chairman Tremaine Wright said the opening was a credit to “Governor Ho-Chol’s leadership.”
“These landmark facilities are a testament to our commitment to not only providing a safe and regulated environment for cannabis access, but also facilitating inclusive business opportunities. By supporting and ensuring equitable participation, we are paving the way for a vibrant and representative industry,” Wright said.
