There is no leaf on The Rock.
More than a year after New York issued its first licenses for legal pot peddlers to set up shop, Staten Island is the only borough in NYC without a recreational dispensary, killing the buzz for would-be entrepreneurs and users alike.
“I’m disappointed,” said David Sutherland, who was awarded a license in July but still hasn’t found a storefront where he can legally sell sticky icky. “We are part of the five boroughs. We should have the same opportunities.”
A major hurdle for many budding cannabis sellers has been the legal red tape that has delayed openings for all licensed pot shops across the state for months.
But in the city’s most conservative borough, landlords also have been reluctant to rent to dispensaries, industry experts and licensees said.
“If you took a poll, I’d bet most Staten Islanders do not want pot shops, legal or not,” US Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) told The Post.
“I think this is an area where we’d be happy to remain the forgotten borough and continue to urge the city to crack down on illegal operations.”
Some experts suggested Staten Island landlords may be wary