New York’s first woman-owned pharmacy opens tomorrow

The dispensary, dubbed Good Grades, will also be the first legal cannabis store in the New York City borough of Queens.

“With the opening of Good Grades in Queens, we continue to build on our progress in creating a safe, regulated cannabis industry in New York,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release Monday. “New York is working to support entrepreneurs and ensure consumers can buy safe, legal products while supporting their communities.”

Hochul, the state’s first female governor, has overseen the introduction of the state’s regulated cannabis market. Her predecessor, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, signed into law legalizing recreational marijuana in 2021.

The state officially opened the new marijuana market late last year with the opening of a dispensary in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood.

Good Grades will open as a “pop-up” store, according to the governor’s press release this week, and the deal will be backed by the New York State Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, which was part of the 2022-23 Hochul budget.

The fund “is a public-private limited partnership formed to enable social participation entrepreneurs to thrive in New York’s newly created adult-use cannabis industry,” says Hochul’s office, and “will provide it to the state.” to invest in a private fund to finance the leasing and outfitting of up to 150 adult-use retail dispensaries in upstate New York to be operated by individuals affected by unfair enforcement of marijuana laws.”

The governor’s office said that opening Good Grades as a pop-up, like other dispensaries supported by the fund, “presents an opportunity in the short term to accelerate sales, provide training opportunities for employees and begin generating capital for their businesses.” “

“After that, they will be closed for final construction and then reopened long-term,” said this week’s press release.

“I am very excited to open the doors of Good Grades, the very first pharmacy in Queens, New York,” said Extasy James, owner of Good Grades.

“We are incredibly passionate about providing greater access to cannabis and breaking down the barriers that prevent so many people, particularly those from marginalized communities, from experiencing the benefits of this amazing plant. We understand firsthand the stigma that has hung on cannabis for far too long, and we’re eager to join the thriving cannabis community to help change that. Our pharmacy is a welcoming and inclusive place where everyone can come to learn, explore and find the products that best meet their individual needs.”

New York City opened its third legal dispensary last month — not to be confused with the illegal cannabis retailers that have flooded all five boroughs in the past two years.

The first pharmacy outside of NYC also opened to customers last month.

Earlier this month, the state announced that it would double the number of cannabis retailer licenses, to 300 instead of the 150 originally planned.

“This expansion allows more entrepreneurs to participate in the first wave of this industry and capitalize on the growing demand for cannabis products,” said Tremaine Wright, Chair of the New York Cannabis Control Board. “As more companies enter this market, innovation and competition will increase, resulting in better-quality experiences for consumers. The expansion of the New York cannabis market will benefit everyone involved in this exciting industry.”