These nonprofit organizations will open New York’s first cannabis retail stores
A handful of non-profit organizations will be the only licensed businesses on the first day of adult cannabis sales in New York. Here’s where you can find them while other Rec stores are delivery-only.
If you plan to participate in history by purchasing legal weed in New York on day one of sale, your options are limited to fewer than eight nonprofit operators, three of which are based in New York City.
Most of the first licensed retail outlets in New York’s cannabis market don’t have storefronts yet, and they won’t before the legal market officially opens next week (expected December 29). These locations are owned and operated by individuals with New York cannabis convictions and are funded by the state’s housing authority (DASNY). The store could take months to expand, so most retailers will use delivery to reach customers in the meantime.
For those looking to shop in-person right from the start, the eight licensed nonprofits that already have new or existing locations will be the first to welcome adult shoppers with open doors when sales begin.
In November, the New York Cannabis Board of Directors identified the nonprofits as the first of 25 that will help spearhead the state’s retail cannabis market. These organizations were granted licenses based on years of remarkable community work, consisting of helping individuals with beliefs gain job training, opportunities and housing to support their reintegration into society.
For now, these organizations will set the tone for the first recreational cannabis stores in the state of Hempire. Here’s how they secured their place in New York history and how to find them on day one of legal sale.
housing
Location: 750 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 Manhattan – Broadway between Eighth Street and Astor Place (Greenwich Village)
operating hours: Monday to Thursday from 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 11pm and Sunday from 11am to 7pm
About the org: Housing Works is a not-for-profit organization that serves over 15,000 people living with HIV/AIDS annually, making it the nation’s largest community-based AIDS service group and minority-controlled AIDS organization.
The organization offers psychiatric care, job placement and case management, among other things. In 2018, the organization launched its Justice Initiative, which focuses on helping previously incarcerated New Yorkers.
Housing Works also operates 12 thrift stores in all five boroughs, along with a bookstore cafe and a processing distribution center. These companies hire graduates of the organization’s job and peer training programs.
About Housing Works’ new cannabis store: Housing Works’ new pharmacy will occupy a large area that was previously a Gap retail location. The store has 4,000 square feet on the main level, plus 2,000 more on a lower level. The New York Post reported that the store is expected to open on December 29.
The store will sell flowers, pre-rolls, concentrates and edibles, according to state and local documents. At least three security guards will be on site at all times at Housing Works’ new retail location, according to plans filed with the state.
The Doe Fund (business to be rebranded)
Location: 835 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 Manhattan – Broadway and East 13th St. in Greenwich Village.
operating hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily
About the organization: Since 1987, The Doe Fund has fought to break the cycle of mass incarceration, criminal recidivism, and stubborn poverty that binds many New Yorkers. The Doe Fund’s Ready, Willing & Able initiative provides temporary work, housing, education, training and emotional support to marginalized groups and New Yorkers who have served time in prison. The Culinary Arts is a popular path for trainees that opens up careers in the hospitality industry.
About The Doe Fund’s new cannabis store: The Doe Fund store will be rebranded ahead of opening in the coming weeks. It operates from the ground floor of a five-story building one block from Union Square Park, a Whole Foods, and a major subway station.
The store plans to legally white-label California brands, though it’s not yet clear how participating in a federally illegal market might affect the status of The Doe Fund or other nonprofits as nonprofits. Still, Paul Yau, the business’ CEO, expressed confidence that new dispensaries will not jeopardize the organization’s state tax-exempt status. Paul Yau, CEO of The Doe Fund, told local reporters the organization will open a small portion of the store in the coming weeks while the rest of the store undergoes renovations.
The Doe Fund is now connecting with growers and processors across New York looking for long-term suppliers to stock their shelves. “We want to source as many products as possible from BIPOC and New York State women-led brands,” Arana Hankin-Biggers, the store’s president, said in an interview with Syracuse.com. Hankin-Biggers said they plan to meet with every single farmer in upstate New York and are “also trying to build a really fun experience into the store.”
“We work closely with local farmers and … we have a really good team of people who are currently reviewing all the produce available in New York State.”
Ariana Hankin-Biggers, Pharmacist President of the Doe Fund
Urban Uptrend
Location: Queens – Exact location to be announced
operating hours: to be announced
About the organization: Queens-based organization Urban Upbound is helping New Yorkers, including ex-inmates, find jobs. They provide 1-to-1 career counseling, pre-employment training, financial education and internship programs, and retention services for unemployed and underemployed youth and adults.
Urban Upbound also operates a Federal Credit Union (UUFCU), which has become a pillar for the communities it serves. UUFCU has a proven track record of providing Queens residents with financial tools to encourage long-term wealth accumulation and economic mobility that their constituents cannot access from traditional banks.
About the new weed shop: Details on this retail location are still pending.
challenge industries
Location: Ithaca – Exact location to be announced
operating hours: to be announced
About the organization: Based in Ithaca, New York, Challenge Industries has been creating employment pathways for people with disabilities or resource barriers, including those dealing with the justice system and impacted by New York’s historically poor marijuana enforcement, for over 50 years. In 1968, the Challenge served over 700 people stuck in the justice system through professional training. The Challenge Industries program provides general work skills and direct placement programs that help job seekers secure full-time employment and career advancement.
About the new weed shop: Details on this retail location are still pending.
The Center for Community Alternatives
Location: Rochester & Syracuse – Exact location to be announced
operating hours: to be announced
About the organization: For more than 40 years, the Center of Community Alternatives has spearheaded community-based alternatives to incarceration. In New York City, Rochester, and Syracuse, the organization has provided gender-specific substance treatment and recovery support, as well as legal counsel, professional training, temporary housing, student support, violence prevention, and mentorship. The center has offered after-school programs and careers exploration for youth involved in the justice system for decades. To support the reintegration of New Yorkers into free society, the organization offers services such as community-based workforce programs that bring gainful employment to many people who cannot find steady work due to past cannabis fees.
About the new weed shop: Details on this retail location are still pending.
LIFE camp
Location: South Jamaica, Queens – Exact location to be announced
operating hours: to be announced
About the organization: Since 2002, Kush & Kemet LLC’s LIFE Camp has been conducting LIFE Camps (Love Ignites Freedom through Education). LIFE is a community organization focused on violence prevention and intervention. The organization invests in the educational and social development of local youth and offers resources to families who have not had access to help. According to Staten Island Live, LIFE Camp credits a decrease in crime “since its inception and through alternative community initiatives that provide mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing to parents and families affected by the trauma of gun violence.”
About the new weed shop: Details on this retail location are still pending.
The Urban League of Broome County
Location: Binghamton – Broome County – Exact location to be announced
operating hours: to be announced
About the organization: Since 1968, the Broome County Urban League (BCUL) has brought social services to Binghamton, New York. BCUL specializes in youth development, including after-school programs, tutoring and mentorship. They also offer technology courses and staff development. From 2012 to 2018, BCUL helped lead a work program that provided jobs for those working in the judiciary and hard-to-reach populations to improve employability.
About the new weed shop: Details on this retail location are still pending.
ENDEAVOR
Location: East Harlem, Manhattan – Exact location to be announced
operating hours: (TBA)
About the organization: Founded in 1984, STRIVE is a national leader in helping underserved communities overcome barriers to employment. The organization’s training and support for those involved in the justice system helps with career development and provides opportunities for economic empowerment. STRIVE also runs a reintegration program that has served 3,500 justice-affected adults and youth in 10 US cities through a federal grant. According to local reports, “STRIVE has transformed the lives of more than 80,000 participants by successfully helping them enter and re-enter the workforce through their STRIVE Career Path and STRIVE Future Leaders.”
About the new weed shop: Details on this retail location are pending.
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