Yo, NYC’s first legit weed shops need your love!

Yo, what’s good, fam? It’s ya boy Dan, and I’m here to drop some knowledge on what’s poppin’ with them first real weed spots in NYC. If you ain’t heard, Leafly’s linkin’ up with New York dispensaries to give y’all the freshest strains, dope brands, and events ’round the city in 2024 and beyond. But lemme break it down for ya; these dispensaries need our support like never before.

Now, I know it ain’t been easy for these folks. NYC’s Conditional Adult Use Recreational Dispensary (CAURD) program faced mad hurdles—legal battles, broken promises, and delays that felt like forever. But they ain’t givin’ up; they came together, formed the New York Cannabis Retail Association (NYCRA), and they ready to fight through the storm. They out here hustlin’ hard, and that deserves some love.

So let’s talk about who’s runnin’ the show. The NYCRA is all about teamwork, unity, and support. They got dispensary owners like Jayson and Brittni Tantalo from Flower City dispensary leadin’ the charge along with Coss Marte from ConBud and Shanduke McPhatter, who’s workin’ on makin’ his own nonprofit moves. Jayson said, “The lack of transparency from the state was what pushed us to create NYCRA. We needed info, we needed help, and we were all askin’ the same questions.” Ain’t that real? They started with just a few folks, and boom, they ballooned to 50 or 60 members in no time.

Now, you might be wonderin’, “Why should I be shoppin’ at these legal spots?” Well, lemme tell you, New York is the first state to put people affected by The War on Drugs at the front of the line for dispensary licenses. When you buy from these licensed brands, you ain’t just gettin’ the good stuff; you’re also supportin’ businesses owned by folks who’ve been hit hard by the system. That’s real talk.

Let’s stroll down memory lane for a second. New York’s been criminalizin’ cannabis since way back in 1914. They started off lettin’ folks use it medicinally, but by 1927, they made it a straight-up no-go for possession and sales. The feds jumped in in 1937, and it got ugly real quick. But yo, things started changin’. In 2016, they legalized medical cannabis, and by 2021, Governor Cuomo signed the MRTA into law. That was the moment folks could finally breathe easy, knowing they wouldn’t get locked up for just smokin’ a joint.

Now, where can you spark up in the city? Basically, if you can smoke cigs, you can smoke that green too. Just keep it cool around schools and churches, and you’re good to go. Since December 2022, a whopping 146 dispensaries have opened up, and they keep comin’. Everywhere you go, from Wall Street to Washington Heights, you can roll up legally—though we recommend not poppin’ one on the subway, ya know?

But let’s keep it real. The streets were flooded with unlicensed dispensaries when legal ones were slow to open. Thousands popped up, fillin’ the gaps, but most of ‘em were shady. They had products laced with mold and other nasty toxins. But don’t fret; the city and state are crackin’ down. Mayor Eric Adams ain’t playin’ around; he promised to shut down those illegal spots without messin’ with the people runnin’ them. So far, they’ve raided a couple hundred of them, and they takin’ that illegal weed off the streets.

Now peep this: for the first time, New York’s lettin’ folks who’ve been caught up in the system get a shot at the legal market. They’ve made it so that the first dispensary licenses go to people who’ve been affected by cannabis laws. From 1980 to 2020, there were over 1.2 million marijuana arrests in New York, with nearly 400,000 convictions. So, you see why this is a big deal.

The owners of these dispensaries had to prove they faced non-violent cannabis charges or had family members who did. They also had to live in neighborhoods hit hard by the War on Drugs. This is about givin’ back to the community, and that’s something we can all respect.

But it ain’t been all smooth sailing, y’all. The legal market’s been kinda messy. The rules are strict, and there’s a lot of competition from outta state brands tryin’ to swoop in. They gotta work with local licensees to get their products on the shelves. And while it sounds easy, it’s been a grind for everyone involved.

So, as we roll into 2024, it’s time for us to show love to those real dispensaries. They’re struggling to find their way in a market that’s still tryin’ to find its rhythm. Leafly’s all about supportin’ these businesses and makin’ sure that only the best products make it to your hands.

If you care about your community and want to uplift those who’ve been fightin’ the good fight, then get out there and cop your weed from the legit shops. Let’s keep it real, keep it local, and keep pushin’ for a brighter future in this cannabis game.

Alright, fam, that’s the scoop. Keep it lit, support your local dispensaries, and remember: we out here lookin’ for equity and justice in this green game. Peace!