The Register-Star reports this morning that Hudson is getting a third cannabis dispensary: "Hudson dispensary OK'd by state board despite distance regulations." The following is quoted from the article:
Blaze NY LLC, to be located at 519 Columbia St., was awarded an adult-use retail dispensary license by the state Cannabis Control Board, against the recommendation of the state Office of Cannabis Management, during the board's May 20 meeting.
The dispensary will be owned by Bill Hughes, a former 4th Ward Supervisor and minority leader of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, and his business partner, Remigio Arteaga. . . .
The Cannabis Control Board granted the license through a public convenience and advantage request, which allows the board to approve a license that is within 2,000 feet of another dispensary, if it's determined the dispensary will promote the advantage of the community.
Hudson already has two cannabis dispensaries: Riverbend at 531 Warren Street, just a block away, and Gotham at the corner of Warren and Third.
Fair question. But since cannabis dispensaries are neither government departments nor Kamal’s love interests, market forces will determine their number, trimming or expanding as needed.
ReplyDelete🤔 One level deeper... why did Riverbend and Gotham open first?
Didn't New York State have some utopian vision for rolling out these licenses? #DEI
They opened first because they applied for their licenses first. Billy Hughes is flexing his state Dem Committee chops to open a doomed and surplus dispensary. Look at the empty parking lot at Goldleaf in Greenport.
DeleteI agree, market forces will answer the question posed in the headline.
DeleteSome also question the number of breweries we have. But breweries make a product that is vertically integrated, high volume and high margin, compared to dispensaries. They also do a decent business in on site consumption, with food, and can share the same customers who are beer enthusiasts and touring nearby producers.
Cannabis is a low margin, over regulated and taxed product, much like cigarettes. You also don’t need to consume as much as alcohol, nor is it ingrained into our social culture. Plus, as the supply increases it becomes a race to the bottom in pricing. In the end, dispensaries will just be a low margin retail space, like a bodega selling cigarettes and potato chips. This new location on Columbia, away from the foot traffic on Warren, suggests that it will try to undercut the other ones.
As to how the other ones got here, Riverbend, this first one, has one owner that was “justice involved” with a prior conviction so was able to secure that license. Gotham is the passion project of a billionaire VC’s wife for cultural clout and has the funds to outlast them all. Hudson seems to be a magnet for these billionaire hobby businesses.
And for the record, if anyone’s asking, NY cannabis is mostly garbage and many consumers grow their own or has a friend that does. Another reason the weed business is a challenging one.
That building (adjacent to the City Hall parking lot, to the west) is under construction, has been for a while and still has a way to go. 4 or 5 months ago, I asked a worker there if he knew what was going to come to the building when it was done. He said that he had heard it would be a dispensary. Certainly he is pulling my leg, I thought. Funny guy, right? Nope!
ReplyDeleteThere is no parking on Columbia Street's south side, parking on the north side is difficult to come by. The city hall lot will soon be kiosked and is not meant for customer parking solely for one business. But that's what it will become, at least the western end of the lot. Sounds great! Another issue for the Parking Committee to concern itself with.
Somebody spent a bundle to restore the brick building that will house Blaze, and I'm happy about it, as it's right out my back door. They did a really nice job on the structure. Right next door on Columbia there is a very large wooden building that could use a similar investment. In any case, I'm glad to see Hudson re-claiming its role as a Temple Of Vice.
ReplyDelete