New York City Cannabis is an economic development masterclass. From my bird’s-eye view, I have seen opportunities for young adults to get valuable retail experience in a billion-dollar industry. As of November 2025, New York’s regulated cannabis market continues to mature, surpassing $1.4 billion in reported sales to date.
- From Nucleus and The Herbal Care on the Upper East Side
- Just A Little Higher, Superfly & The Sanctuary Garden on the Upper West Side
- Tetra, Conbud & Bronx Joint in East Harlem & The South Bronx
- Gotham Buds, Dynasty Commodities & Midnight Moon in Central Harlem
- Sparkboro, Broadway Strains & Happy Munkey in Washington Heights in Dyckman
“Equity is not a slogan—it’s the structure,” said L. Simone Washington, chief equity officer of New York state’s Office of Cannabis Management. “Across every region and license type, SEE entrepreneurs are proving that when access meets accountability, New York builds an industry that works for everyone.”
Yet the elephant in the room is that these are some of the only businesses thriving in a city that was once known for its vibrant small business community. Rising costs, COVID social restrictions, and automation have stripped New York City of lots of its cultural staples, and it seems now that businesses are warming up to what legal cannabis could do for the neighborhood.
The most common license is that of a retailer, which entails sales of licensed brands to patrons over the age of 21. From the sleek architectural detail in Torches, a Dominican-owned dispensary on East 42nd Street reminiscent of a 1960s cigar bar for the elite, to the groovy retro feel at Superfly on 86th, even if you don’t partake, these dispensaries are carefully curated with local art and odes to NYC culture…