|  New York’s second state-licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary opened this week in Manhattan—and it’s the first storefront owned and operated by an entrepreneur previously criminalized by cannabis prohibition.
Smacked LLC, owned and operated by Roland Conner, opened its doors Jan. 24 and joined nonprofit organization Housing Works Cannabis Co. as one of two operating licensed adult-use cannabis retailers in the state. (More on Housing Works here.)
Smacked will celebrate a soft opening through Feb. 20, operating as a pop-up in the shorter term until it can undergo final construction and reopen in a more permanent location.
“I am so excited to become a part of history as the first individual to open a legal cannabis dispensary in New York City,” Conner said in a public statement. “Given my experience with cannabis, I never could have imagined that I would be opening a store like this. I’m grateful for the opportunity to open a business with my son and wife at my side and build generational wealth, working together, right here in New York.
“But this is not just about me and my family. This is about everyone who was harmed by the draconian drug laws of the past. New York’s commitment to righting those wrongs through the law is inspiring. I am proof of that commitment because I’m standing here today.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled New York’s “Seeding Opportunity Initiative” last year to prioritize those most impacted by the war on drugs in the adult-use cannabis licensing process. Part of the plan called for issuing the first Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses to those with cannabis-related convictions, and the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) approved the first 36 CAURD licenses in November with eight going to nonprofit organizations and 28 issued to qualifying individuals like Conner.
But is the state doing enough to ensure equity in the marketplace?
A new coalition—dubbed the CAURD Coalition—has formed to help support adult-use business license applicants, including those who don’t ultimately receive licenses, by creating a network for jobs, training and mentorship.
The group, founded by CAURD license applicants Jayson and Britni Tantalo, Jeremy Rivera and Coss Marte, has grown to more than 70 members, including not only applicants, but also license holders and several attorneys, according to The Villager.
“I think that some people think that our reaction is like revolt or we are coming after the state, but what we are saying is that we need help,” Britni told the news outlet. “We need help across the state, and we need the help of the Office of Cannabis Management.”
Another goal: getting legacy operators to transition to the legal market.
“The tagline from the very beginning has always been collaboration over competition,” Jayson told The Villager. “The goal for New York was always to have the legacy market translate into legalization and if the OCM allows us to help, we have the ability to reach thousands of New Yorkers who have been impacted by criminalization.”
As New York continues to wrestle with social equity, what opportunities—and challenges—do you anticipate in this market?
-Melissa Schiller, Senior Digital Editor | 
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