Yo, listen up! The cannabis game in New York is lookin’ like a rollercoaster ride, ya feel me? It’s been mad tense as folks wait to see what the feds gon’ do next. On one side, you got the slow-movin’ Biden and Harris crew, tryna figure out they whole weed situation. The Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA for them in the know, is takin’ its sweet time with the whole rescheduling thing. They gotta deal with mad support comin’ from other agencies and the people out here who just wanna get high without the hassle.
But hold up, on the flip side, you got House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana, and he lettin’ his squad protest real loud about the dangers of marijuana. Meanwhile, California’s got its own hot mess goin’ on, and the money flowin’ into the weed biz has dropped like a rock. Everybody out here waitin’ for the dust to settle, and it ain’t easy. But let’s keep it real, there’s some good vibes comin’ outta New York’s legal weed scene.
NY’s Big Dreams
New York thought they was about to take over the weed game worldwide when they legalized recreational cannabis. But then, right before they was set to launch in January 2023, things went left. A last-minute shakeup turned everything upside down, and instead of smooth sailin’, it was chaos city. By the end of the year, we only had about 25 legal spots to buy weed while there was like 2,800 shady spots poppin’ up all over the place in the Empire State. Now, whether consumers knew or cared about the legality of where they was buyin’ their goodies, they really shoulda been thinkin’ about it. The stuff sold in them unregulated shops is a health risk – you never know what’s in it or the right dosages, ya dig?
Wana Brands on the Move
Now, let me drop some knowledge on ya about Wana Brands. They’re the top dog when it comes to gummies in the weed game, spreadin’ their vibes across 20 states and even Canada and Puerto Rico. Backed by Canopy and Constellation Brands, they got mad respect in the game. With them comin’ into the New York market, it’s clear that things is startin’ to level out. NY has already shut down over 800 illegal spots and is pushin’ to get up to 200 legal ones.
Joe Hodas, the big boss over at Wana, said, “We been plannin’ our entry into the New York market for a hot minute. We already got a strong presence in over 20 stores, like The Travel Agency and Housing Works. Orders are comin’ in hot, and more spots gon’ open up soon. We kickin’ things off in the NYC area, but we ain’t stoppin’ there – we lookin’ to move upstate too. We believe NY gon’ be one of the key players for us in the game, and we hyped to get our products in the hands of New Yorkers and visitors from all over.”
Why Now?
When Joe was asked why they chose to jump into the NY market right now, he broke it down like this: “Timing was everything for us. In the past, the illegal stores had the city on lock, makin’ it tough for brands like ours. But on my recent trips, I peeped the scene – things done changed. There’s now a solid network of legal spots, and we felt it was finally time to roll out our products for New Yorkers. We couldn’t have done this without our homies at urbanXtracts, who got them top-notch manufacturing skills and a shared commitment to quality. We excited to see what the future holds.”
Partners in the Game
Paul Yau, Co-Founder and CEO of The Travel Agency, said, “We super excited to team up with Wana in this vibrant NYC cannabis market that we been helpin’ to grow since Day One. Wana is a straight-up pioneer in this industry, always comin’ through with reliable products and explorin’ new formats and flavors. We can’t wait to work with Wana to give New Yorkers a safe, high-quality cannabis experience.”
So, there you have it, fam. While the weed game in NY still got its struggles, it’s clear that some good vibes are on the horizon. Keep your eyes peeled for more legal spots and good products comin’ your way!
