Category: Marijuana News

The fortunes of Rhode Island’s marijuana license ping pong ball lottery in the fall of 2021 shone upon Green Wave.

It was one of the companies selected for six new medical cannabis compassion center licenses, which would then also get the first crack at recreational pot sales anticipated in the year ahead.

But little more than a year later, Green Wave’s president told NBC 10, “This has been the worst lottery win so far.”

That was after the state pulled its approval of Green Wave’s license.

Documents obtained by the NBC 10 I-Team show not long after the lottery, Green Wave notified state regulators of problems finalizing a deal for the property on Danielson Pike in Foster where it planned to open.

Turns out the site of an old pool supply store had been tied up in probate for years.

State documents showed Green Wave then tried to find other locations.

But in August of 2022, state regulators rescinded Green Wave’s approval for failing to meet licensing requirements within the given nine month time frame.

Green Wave however, fought the move in court.

Now, a consent order from the Office of Cannabis Regulation filed in late February shows state regulators are giving Green Wave a new deadline, in early

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Elevate Cannabis Dispensary in Mount Vernon joins the list of 77 adult-use cannabis dispensaries across New York State since the recreational legalization in 2021. Elevate, one of Westchester’s adult-use dispensaries, opened its doors in December 2023 and has since been serving the community for all its cannabis needs.

“We’re excited to try to set the tone for the cannabis industry here in New York,” says Elevate owner John Ruggiero.

Ruggiero and his business partner Chris Carey are Mount Vernon natives, small business owners, and lifelong marijuana enthusiasts. Once the duo decided to embark down the rocky road of opening an adult-use dispensary, they faced two years of multiple state- and city-wide issues as well as a lawsuit that put a pause on their opening process.

– Advertisement – Photo courtesy of Elevate Cannabis Dispensary. Photography by Raymond Beccarelli.

Additionally, the stigma that surrounds the blooming cannabis industry weighed heavy on the process as a whole. When seeking out an ideal storefront in Westchester, the duo found that many cities were hesitant to rent a space out to a dispensary. Certain areas in Westchester are going as far as to opt out of allowing a retail cannabis dispensary to open

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Riverhead Town officials voted Tuesday to remove a 1,000-foot buffer between recreational cannabis shops and residences in the town’s major commercial corridors.

The measure drew support from residents who said it was a fair approach to the emerging industry, though it generated criticism from aspiring dispensary owners who said at a hearing last month  the rules are still too restrictive.

The proposal was approved in a 5-0 vote.

Under the new zoning, dispensaries will be allowed to sit closer than 1,000 feet from homes if the shops are on commercial corridors: Route 25A in Wading River, Middle Country Road in Calverton, Route 58 in Riverhead, Main Road in Aquebogue and Main Road in Jamesport.

One dispensary is allowed in each corridor except for Route 58, where as many as seven could open if spaced 2,500 feet apart.

The change increases the number of eligible shops from five to 144, DeputyTown Attorney Annemarie Prudenti said.

She said the zoning will allow dispensaries to “roll out in a responsible, slow manner” that will help the town assess impacts like increased traffic.

Entrepreneurs with conditional state licenses to open dispensaries said finding locations remains challenging due to uncooperative landlords and existing town zoning.

Dispensaries must also be 1,000 feet from schools and libraries

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The latest Natick, Mass., business news:

Revisiting Redi dispensary a year later

The Redi recreational cannabis dispensary at Cloverleaf’ Mall opened at the start of 2023 and we got a sneak peek at the time. 

Given that this was Natick’s first such business, we thought it would be a good idea to check in a year or so later to see how things have gone. I sat down with Victor Chiang, CEO and co-founder of Redi, to get a rundown on the business’s start.

The shop looked more or less the same as during my initial visit, though now video screens had been slotted into walls that previously had been bare. Redi and other recreational shops are limited in what they can display on the floor—while they can show off paraphernalia, they can’t exhibit actual cannabis product for security reasons.

I could see for myself that a steady stream of customers was trickling in during our discussion, with background music from Offspring, Foo Fighters, and others flowing from speakers. We met just after lunchtime on Tuesday, Jan. 30—the end of a month that Chiang said he was happy to see be a dry one for some portion of the local

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Nearly three years post-legalization, New York’s South Fork welcomes its first recreational cannabis dispensary, Little Beach Harvest, owned and operated by the Shinnecock Nation. Situated at 56 Montauk Highway in Southampton, this establishment marks a significant milestone for both the Shinnecock Nation and the broader New York community, offering a wide range of cannabis products in a state-of-the-art facility.

AdvertismentA New Era Begins

The opening of Little Beach Harvest just before Christmas heralds a new era in cannabis consumption and accessibility in New York. Owned by the Shinnecock Nation, this 5,000-square-foot modern dispensary features a variety of THC, CBD, CBG, and hemp products catering to different consumer needs, from recreational use to wellness and medicinal purposes. The diverse product range and welcoming environment signify the dispensary’s commitment to fostering a community around cannabis, highlighting its role in wellness and social connectivity.

Building Community and CultureAdvertisment

Little Beach Harvest is more than just a dispensary; it’s a hub for community engagement and cultural exchange. Brand specialist Jay Wright emphasizes the importance of creating a space where both Indigenous Shinnecocks and non-Indigenous patrons can come together for events, education, and art exhibitions. The Shinnecock Nation’s approach to cannabis, emphasizing legality, safety, and community, sets Little Beach

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Inside Little Beach Harvest, Photo: Oliver Peterson

It’s been nearly three years since New York State legalized adult-use cannabis on March 31, 2021, but the South Fork only just began enjoying our first recreational dispensary, Little Beach Harvest, before Christmas. And what a dispensary it is.

Owned and operated by the Shinnecock Nation at 56 Montauk Highway in Southampton, Little Beach Harvest is positioning itself as the place to be, especially over the summer, when throngs of New Yorkers and out-of-towners will roll in ready to celebrate this new era of getting well and getting high without fear of arrest or judgement. The brand-new building is 5,000 square feet of modern glass and blonde wood with long cases full of just about every THC, CBD, CBG and hemp concoction one could want — whether that’s eating a delicious edible and blasting off to another planet, micro-dosing a gummy for improved sleep or reduced anxiety, puffing on a joint or vape to get creative, or rubbing on some cream to help a nagging physical ailment.

Little Beach Harvest has a wide range of cannabis products

“They all come for that one thing that brings them together, and that’s cannabis,” Little Beach

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WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – West Springfield’s first recreational cannabis dispensary will officially open this Friday.

Marijuana sales in Massachusetts sets record year in 2023

Cannabis Connection is located at 1102 Riverdale Street in West Springfield and will be open seven days a week. Customers must be 21 or older and can begin placing online orders on Thursday at 9:00 p.m.

“We could not be happier to be the first adult-use cannabis store to open in West Springfield,” said Tom Keenan, CEO of Cannabis Connection. “We committed to the city nearly a year ago to bring regulated, tested cannabis products for adults to the city, and today, just short of a year, we have achieved that goal. Our team has worked tirelessly to create a welcoming environment where customers can explore various cannabis products and receive personalized guidance from our expert staff.”

Keenan says they hope to provide education and awareness about the use of cannabis and will hold events to help customers make informed decisions about their health and wellness.

The Town of West Springfield previously prohibited recreational marijuana stores but reversed that decision in July 2022. The town has accepted two

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WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – West Springfield’s first recreational cannabis dispensary will officially open this Friday.

Marijuana sales in Massachusetts sets record year in 2023

Cannabis Connection is located at 1102 Riverdale Street in West Springfield and will be open seven days a week. Customers must be 21 or older and can begin placing online orders on Thursday at 9:00 p.m.

“We could not be happier to be the first adult-use cannabis store to open in West Springfield,” said Tom Keenan, CEO of Cannabis Connection. “We committed to the city nearly a year ago to bring regulated, tested cannabis products for adults to the city, and today, just short of a year, we have achieved that goal. Our team has worked tirelessly to create a welcoming environment where customers can explore various cannabis products and receive personalized guidance from our expert staff.”

Keenan says they hope to provide education and awareness about the use of cannabis and will hold events to help customers make informed decisions about their health and wellness.

The Town of West Springfield previously prohibited recreational marijuana stores but reversed that decision in July 2022. The town has accepted two

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The Hawaii Senate voted 19-6 on Tuesday to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, sending the proposal next to the House for consideration. The vote, first reported by Marijuana Moment, marks the second time in as many years that Hawaii senators have voted to legalize adult-use cannabis.

SB 3335 seeks to legalize the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and up to five grams of cannabis concentrate products for adults aged 21; the legalization policy would take effect starting January 1, 2026. Additionally, the proposal would establish a regulated adult-use marketplace with a 14% excise tax rate on recreational products and a 4% tax rate on the medical cannabis market. Cannabis home grows would be allowed with a maximum of six plants, and up to 10 ounces of home-grown flower.

The bill closely resembles legislation brought last year by Attorney General Anne Lopez (D).

Nikos Leverenz of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Health and Harm Reduction Center praised lawmakers’ engagement with the issue despite objecting to the proposal’s focus on law enforcement issues.

“Although this is an imperfect bill that still contains far too many elements of criminalization, it’s welcome news to have a

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