HELL’S KITCHEN, NY – Cannadreams, a legal adult-use cannabis dispensary, is now open, according to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.
Cannadreams is located at 862 9th Avenue on the corner of 56th Street in a space that used to house Bar Veloce. It opened on Thursday, August 8th and is now open 7 days a week.
The store is located about three blocks from Columbus Circle.
There are hardly any legal options for smokers
Cannadreams is only the second legal adult-use dispensary in the 10019 zip code. The other is Nicklz, located nearly 10 blocks away at 797 8th Avenue.
Further up the Upper West Side, Patch can only spot two – legal – dispensaries: Flower Power Dispensaries at 22 W. 66th Street and Just A Little Higher at 157 W. 72nd Street.
According to the state’s website, there are no legal recreational dispensaries in the 10024 and 10025 zip code areas. That means smokers on most of Manhattan’s West Side, between 34th and 110th Streets, are served by only a handful of legal businesses.
In fact, there appear to be only 30 legal adult-use cannabis dispensaries in Manhattan, compared to 161 statewide. See for yourself here.
At the beginning of the year, there were nearly 3,000 illegal cannabis dealers across the city, but that number has dropped following a recent crackdown by the city, with 200 illegal businesses reportedly shut down in Manhattan alone.
Neighborhood concerns
According to local news station W42ST, which covered the fourth Manhattan Community Board meeting to discuss the store’s application, the neighborhood was not entirely convinced about the opening of Cannadreams.
Under state law, local councils can voice their opinion for or against issuing licenses for adult-use and/or on-site consumption cannabis dispensaries. The process is similar to how local councils make recommendations for or against a business’ application as part of the New York State Liquor Authority’s license application process.
While a recommendation is not binding, the panel’s vote will be included in the documentation used by authorities in deciding whether to approve an application.
Back in February, Community Board 4 voted in favor of Cannadreams’ proposal.
“MCB4 votes to approve (Cannadreams) despite its immense frustration with the ongoing
“The proliferation of illegal tobacco shops and dispensaries in our district,” the Community Board wrote in a Feb. 26 letter. “While MCB4 does not believe that those who have complied with the law by waiting for a license, such as (Cannadreams), should be penalized for the illegal actions of others, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recommend licensing on blocks already saturated with such illegal dispensaries.”
Ultimately, the board was satisfied with Cannadreams’ proposal and wrote: “MCB4 is
optimistic that the proposed location is not incompatible with the immediate environment
Neighborhood, and that the granting of the full pharmacy license of this applicant is not
have a negative impact on the community.”
Attempts to reach Cannadreams on Friday were unsuccessful.
