New York city and state officials are playing catch-up on the cannabis dispensary explosion and they are losing big time. With the legalization of recreational marijuana use came an explosion of shops selling weed and weed related products but police are powerless to shutter them because they are not selling anything illegal.
In March of this year Chinatown saw another weed shop pop up at 1 Catherine Street in the form of China Square Convenience (Yes, they even changed the name from Chatham Sq). The shop’s canopy advertised products such as “snacks” “beverages” “headphones” “Tabacco” and “vapes” but customers are greeted by different “brands” of marijuana and brightly colored packages of cannabis gummies.
Parents from nearby schools raised concerns that the cannabis gummy packaging too closely resembled candy packaging and even contains key words that would attract youngsters. A store employee stated that buyers of any cannabis product must provide proof of age over 21 in the form of photo ID before they can make a purchase.
The Lower East Side and rest of council district 1 has seen dozens of weed shops open this past year and even several “weed mobiles” which authorities are calling unlicensed dispensaries but another licensed dispensary is slated to open at 85 Delancey Street soon and it’s proprietor made a presentation to CB3’s (Cannabis Control Task Force) Wednesday May 3.
The CEO of CONBUD Coss Marte was awarded the provisional license by the New York State CAURD New York State office of Cannabis management which gives preferential treatment to previously “Justice Involved individuals” . Coss Marte is the elder brother of current Dist 1 CM Christopher Marte and also runs the nearby ConBody fitness gym.
Currently community boards have no legal means to offer an opinion on state licensed cannabis dispensaries so CB3’s Cannabis task Force passed a resolution asking for a process to be put in place so community boards can weigh in much like with liquor license applications. The resolution goes to the full board on May 23.
