New Paltz’s bohemian vibe has always attracted a counterculture lifestyle. That’s one reason it was no surprise when the village became the first site of the statewide Cannabis Grower’s Showcase last year. But after that short-lived but successful farmers’ market experience ended, cannabis consumers eagerly awaited the city’s first official brick-and-mortar dispensary. Big Gas Dispensary is that spot — and New York’s 100th recreational dispensary — after opening in April at the site of a former Stewart’s gas station and convenience store on Route 32, a half-mile from Main Street.
“We are excited to be the community dispensary and provide a unique experience for our customers,” says Kareem Haynesworth, who co-owns Big Gas with his fiancée Zymia Lewis. “We are not a tobacco shop; we are more of an experience where you can learn about our products, learn about cannabis, and find high-quality cannabis for your preferred consumption. We want everyone to feel comfortable asking questions and finding the right product for them.”
Big Gas opened under a CAURD license due to Haynesworth’s status as a legatee. “The terms of CAURD were to help people directly affected by the war on drugs, but you also had to have a profitable business for at least two years,” Haynesworth explains. “When I was younger, I did a couple of months in jail for a small amount of marijuana. But after that, I started a cannabis clothing line about 12 years ago. Over the years, I also worked with people in California where I learned about dispensaries, branding, marketing and the legal cannabis industry in general. And so that combination of experience qualified us for the license.”
After getting that golden ticket, Haynesworth and Lewis had New Paltz in mind as a top location. “We met at Sullivan County Community College, but we always partied in New Paltz and always liked the vibe there; very small business-oriented,” he explains. “We had trouble with zoning at first and started looking at a few other towns. But we just fought through it. I believe anything is possible and that things don’t happen overnight, but if you stay focused and try to do things right, you can achieve your goal. Although there were some delays at first, we were able to open in the spring.”
Courtesy of Big Gas Dispensary
Big Gas owners Kareem Haynesworth and Zymia Lewis. Haynesworth, who served time in prison for a marijuana offense, was able to secure a CAURD license.
Inside, any interior remnants of Stewart’s former aesthetic are long gone. Instead, you enter a sleek, modern store with white-painted brick walls accented by the company’s lime green and black branding. The retail area features small wood and glass display cases where customers can view and learn more about flower and pre-roll products, as well as a wall of edibles and beverages. Outside, you’ll still find the former gas station’s digital “price” sign, but it’s now permanently set to 4:20.
“The renovation was largely funded by the state, but we were able to get family members to help with the design work. My son is an artist at the Savannah College of Art and Design and designed our logo,” says Haynesworth. “We wanted to make this a family business, so my mom is part of the team as well. She was an accountant for 30 years. And the name actually comes from something my little cousin once said, referring to the slang ‘gas,’ which means strong weed. It just so happened that we ended up here.” With the slogan “Fueling your journey in wellness,” they go even deeper into the topic.
Haynesworth says the brand aims to keep the selection as local to the Hudson Valley as possible, highlighting offerings from High Falls Canna, known for high-quality flower at low prices; popular pre-rolled joints from Montgomery-based Flowerhouse; and Warwicks Urban Extracts, a leading vape cartridge manufacturer. “So far, flower is the most popular, but so are our vape cartridges and Ayrloom’s THC drinks, which we can barely keep on the shelf,” he says. “We also have some merchandise and plan to expand that over time. We want the whole thing to feel like a boutique customer experience, and people respond well to that; we’ve gotten great feedback and already have several repeat customers.”
Courtesy of Big Gas Dispensary
The interior of Big Gas in New Paltz.
Big Gas also plans to host events both in the store and in the parking lot. “We want to have some learning sessions where brands educate people about their products, but we also want to utilize our large outdoor space with puff and paints, meet and greets and other free community events,” he says. “We want people to know that we are committed to the community and enjoy being a part of it. And that they feel supported and welcome when they visit; no one is judged here. I understand there is still a stigma around cannabis, and being in the traditional side of the industry, I have felt judged for it most of my life. We don’t want anyone to feel that way; under cannabis, we are all one.”
Big Gas Dispensary is located at 98 N. Chestnut St., New Paltz. The store is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Delivery is also available.
