The Corne¬ Daily Sun Legal Cannabis for Cornellians

By DUNIA MATTA Sun Contributor

It was a day of celebration for William Durham, his team and many Ithacans as William Jane, Ithaca’s first marijuana dispensary, opened at 119 E. State St. on March 16. It is the first dispensary in Upstate New York to be licensed and supported by the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund — a New York partnership intended to finance the development of conditional adult-use retail cannabis establishments — and the fifth legal dispensary in the state of New York. It will operate as a pop-up store for about 30 days, after which it will close and reopen once all renovations are completed.

Until its opening, Ithacans and Cornellians looking to purchase cannabis had only a few options to choose from, such as sticker shops — unlicensed cannabis retail operations in which customers purchase stickers and are gifted marijuana products upon checkout — or black-market dealers. While many locals previously utilized trusted friends who produced and sold marijuana, all adults aged 21 and older can now buy weed with a guarantee of product safety.

Durham, William Jane’s owner, is a Binghamton local entrepreneur and businessman who was previously convicted of marijuana possession at age 23. With the help of the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund, Durham was awarded his retail cannabis license last year. To be eligible for a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries license, you must be justice involved, have prior qualifying business experience with sole control of the business and have a significant presence in New York State.

With its 2021 legalization of cannabis, New York is prioritizing those most affected by the prohibition of marijuana.