A look inside Evergreen Retail Dispensary
Editor Victoria Ritter
victoria@fwpi.com
Contributors
Gregory W. Lane
Joshua Waterman
Graphic Artist
Maia VanOrman
Advertising Sales
Amy Wheeler
amy@flx420.com
Concept Partner
Nate Kurash nate@flx420.com
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by Nate Kurash
Spring has sprung…well sort of.
opportunities that underpin the economy that impact us the most. When you have a chance to patronize these enterprises, please do they are very grateful.
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Wishing everyone a healthy and happy Spring 2025!
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No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher
As we look forward to warmer weather and longer days we are often filled with excitement and optimism. My daily travel for work takes me in and around Rochester, Syracuse, and the towns and villages in between. I am finally starting to see all of the hard work so many of our friends and neighbors have been enduring the past several years come to fruition. The number of “Open” signs and “Coming Soon” banners is really noticeable. I have stopped in or peaked in the window of most of them and I am very encouraged by what I see.
With the economy is undergoing some radical changes not only here in the U.S. but globally this is even more reason why supporting local business is so important. These small businesses provide jobs, tax revenue, and
Advertise in every issue for the biggest return.
• Our quarterly magazine reaches 29,000 readers through direct mail and over 150 locations like dispensaries, CBD shops, and hydroponic stores. The digital version is emailed to 11,000+ subscribers, three times per quarter.
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The advertisers who commit to every issue get the best results. Consistency builds recognition. Repetition builds trust.
by Gregory W. Lane, Lane Law PLLC
Recently, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) published proposed amendments to sections 118.1 and 119.4 of the current Cannabis Law regulations (9 NYCRR §§ 118.1 and 119.4). The public comment period ran through May 19.
The proposed amendment to § 118.1 consists of eliminating the definition of “public convenience and advantage standards” found at its subdivision (a), paragraph (88). Currently, that section gives the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) fairly broad powers to consider, in connection with proposed adultuse retail locations, factors relating to whether the proposed location will result in an over-saturation of the relevant market with adult-use cannabis licensees. To date, these standards have been used by the CCB primarily to approve locations closer to existing licensed locations who enjoyed “proximity protection” under the radius restrictions specified in the regulations.
Those radius restrictions are currently no closer than 1,000 feet in municipalities with populations of 20,000 or more and 2,000 feet in municipalities with populations of 20,000 or less. (See 9 NYCRR § 119.4 (a), paragraphs (1) and (2).) Under the proposed amendments, § 119.4 (a) paragraphs (1) and (2) would be amended to slash their radius distances in half, to 1,000 feet and 500 feet, respectively.
Built into the proposed amendments, however, are “safeguards” for existing licensees who to date have relied on the proximity protection provided by the radius restrictions existing under the regulations currently. To address such concerns, under the new regulations, in 20,000 or more in population municipalities, licensees seeking locations to be situated within 500 and 1,000 feet of an existing licensed location (that distance being the amount “lost” under the new regulations) must pass a two-part test. (The same test applies for 20,000 or less municipalities for the 1,000- to 2,000-foot distance “lost” under the new regulations.)
First, any existing retail location within the 500- to 1,000-foot lost restriction area in more than 20,000 municipalities (or 1,000- to
Greg Lane has been practicing real estate law and business transactions for more than 35 years. In addition to his work in the cannabis space, he practices in all areas of real estate and commercial and business planning and transactions. For more information, call 585-455-3674 or email glane@lanelawpllc.com.
2,000-foot lost restriction area in less than 20,000 municipalities) must have been open and operating for at least nine months. This is intended to give existing licensees with locations to get up and running and establish themselves in the market before having to face nearby (and possibly better funded) competition.
Second, the licensee seeking
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The Budtender
I specialize in feminized photo period clones. I have Sativa, Indica, and some happy hybrids in different strains.
My greenhouse is open most of May.
Text Cathy with any questions, and let me know when you want to stop by!
315-719-8941
Let’s grow some fun!
@grow_it_yourself_wny shared, “These are my personal home grow plants, grown in living soil with high quality, organically produced amendments and no animal by-products. All plants on day 56 since flip to flower.” Pictured is Northern Lights 5 x (Northern Lights 5 x Haze) “Mom A” cut.
From @Dankerseed: Here’s my latest grow – Barf Breath by Solfire Gardens. Let’s groooooow!
@j.diesel_ny shared a picture of their TripleDouble Skunk f2 “Stank McNasty.” Bred by @j.diesel_ny, the strain’s lineage is Trinity Skunk x Hotcakes X 1996 Kentucky Skunk x 300 Trucker Skunk. It was grown in a 2-gallon bag of soil under a 500w SZHLUX lamp.
(continued)
a license in the “lost” area must demonstrate to the CCB that approving the location would promote public convenience and advantage. The public convenience and advantage factors are now set forth in greater detail in 9 NYCRR § 119.4 (b) under the proposed regulations. The limited space for this article prevents a detailed listing of the new standards. Suffice it to say, however, that they eliminate much of the subjectiveness that has by necessity gone into the CCB’s determinations of public convenience and advantage under the current regulations.
In addition, the proposed regulations, in new subdivisions (c) and (d) to § 119.4, provide for, in the case of applications for locations to
be situated within the “lost” areas in municipalities, notices to both the applicable municipalities and any existing retail licensees affected by the radius reductions. Those parties also have the ability to provide comment on the applications to the OCM and the CCB.
Finally, it should not be forgotten that the reduction in proximity areas pursuant to the new regulations notwithstanding, licensees looking for locations are still subject to the local zoning ordinances of the municipalities in which they are looking to locate. In our Finger Lakes market, those local regulations are in many instances as much if not more restrictive and limiting than even the proposed new distances.
Some journeys in the cannabis industry can lead to unexpected places – even spanning across the country. Cheryl Sinkowski shares her story of how she went from being a young pothead in Pennsylvania to trimming and cultivating in California to becoming the head of cultivation at Ithaca Organics and one of the few female head cultivators in New York State.
Where do you originally hail from?
I grew up in rural Pennsylvania outside Philadelphia around the Montgomery County and Berks County border, but I have not lived there since I went off to college in Vermont in 2001.
What drew you to cannabis, and what inspired you to become a cultivator?
I was a rebellious little pot-smoking kid – I started smoking herb around fifth or sixth grade. About once a week I would go from the elementary school to the high school for smart kid classes, and then I would go home on the bus with high school kids. When my older sister and other kids were smoking herb after school, I starting smoking with them.
I was a pothead Deadhead kid. That inspired my first attempt at college in Vermont in 2001. I ended up dropping out and going on The Other Ones tour in Fall 2002. That led to me traveling around the country which cumulated with a cannabis arrest in Texas in late 2003. My older sister actually helped me out there –she got me a lawyer and made me move to New York City in early 2005. Around mid-2009 when I was about 26 years old, I just had enough city living, and I packed up and left New York City for California.
I entered southern California right around the beginning of 2010. I wouldn't say that I set out to be a grower, a cultivator – I was just going with the flow. I was what people would refer to as a “trimigrant.” I didn't have a permanent home in 2010, 2011 and 2012; I just went wherever the work was, trimming.
As a trimmer girl, you get a lot more access to people's farms than when other men come onto the farms because people are happy to show you around, and there's a higher level of trust. By January 2013, I was based out of Occidental in Sonoma County. That was the point where I was invited by a woman to grow at her farm in Mendocino.
What challenges have you faced in a male-dominant industry? How did you overcome them?
I have faced challenges, even to this day. I think it's the same story for women in positions of power in any industry. There’s always a lot of assumptions, made by both men and women.
When new people come onto the farm, nobody ever assumes that I'm the manager. It just comes with the territory, no matter what industry you're in when you're a woman in a leadership position. But you have to have thick skin and not take it personally. It’s like exposure therapy – the more time it happens to you, the more times you learn how to deal with it and you get over it.
Here in New York, with Ithaca Organics, I found that it helped immensely to feel supported in your position. My current boss, Ithaca Organics owner Trever Sherman, has believed in me for years now. I’ve witnessed him demonstrate that through his actions, not just his words. I likely wouldn't be in this position without his support and resources. It feels good.
Back in California when I was on my own, though, I was first invited onto a farm by another female cultivator. When I was in the California industry, I worked with a lot of women – not just female coworkers, but also selling to female brokers. We had our own little subculture within this subculture.
So, you worked as a cultivator across California as well as did some trimming in Oregon. Could you highlight some of your work?
I trimmed throughout the Emerald Triangle and southern Oregon from 2010 to 2019 but cultivated in Mendocino County from 2013 to 2019.
The first grow that I worked for was at the farm where my female friend invited me – she owned it. During the three years I worked there, the farm changed hands to her ex. There I really learned the trade; he was the one who taught me a lot of the methods and techniques I still use.
We were growing in giant redwood living soil beds in greenhouses, nothing outdoor – entirely light dep (light deprivation). We would plant in February, flip by April, have a massive harvest in the beginning of July and then be done for the year. It was such a smart system of growing. At that time, in 2013, not many people were doing light dep. For those three years, it was always a skeleton crew – me and one other person. There was so much work with 18-hour days, rattlesnakes and mountain lions. But it was also the higher the risk, the higher reward.
In early 2016, I had an opportunity to rent a farm in Mendocino where I had previously trimmed from 2010 to 2013. The owner was going to prison, and he invited me to rent his farm and property from him while he was in jail. I lived and worked there for three years, running the grow and making all the decisions. At first, I was only renting one property for him, but then the next two years I rented two properties right next to each other for a total of 50 acres on the mountainside. While I was
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there, I was completely homesteading. That was the first time I started doing outdoor grows. I had a couple hoops here and there and four gardens across the two properties.
It was all going well until the California cannabis market collapsed after recreational legalization. That’s when I moved to New York State.
What skills did you develop during your time in California that have proved to be beneficial in your current role at Ithaca Organics?
I brought with me two sets of skills: the actual grow methods and knowledge, and the administrative work behind it. There is a lot more to being a successful grower and running a business in the legal market than just growing good herb; meticulous record-keeping and organization are paramount here. In the traditional market, it was more for your own knowledge, but now it’s essential for the OCM reporting.
I understand that you champion organic growing. Why do you choose to focus on organic growing methods?
Just as herb has always been a part of my life, so has organic food and lifestyle been a value of mine. That comes from my parents who were “back to the land” people. I actually had a certified organic farm with my father as well. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania with a square acre garden; before I could do anything socially, I had to collect buckets of rocks from the garden. Applying to cannabis specifically, I grow what I like to consume myself. I'm a flower smoker, and I don't want to combust chemical fertilizers, chemical pesticides or, worst of all, the synthetic hormones that are in PGRs (plant growth regulators). The living soil method of growing has also been proven through testing is terpier – producing better smelling and tasting herb.
Plus, living an organic lifestyle and growing organic
cannabis can help lower your carbon footprint and your environmental impact.
What drew you to Upstate New York?
When I left California right around January 2019, the cannabis market was crashing there. On a side
A look inside the drying barn of Sterling Sunset Farm, a certified organic hemp farm owned by Sinkowksi's father
note, where I was living became highly impacted by wildfires. Meanwhile, my father bought a 20-acre plot of land near Lake Ontario and he started running it as a certified organic small grain farm, so I had that to come back to.
I specifically came to Dryden in July/August 2019 to pursue a farming degree at Tompkins Cortland Community College. I graduated with an AAS in sustainable farming and food systems, with honors. This degree gave me college-level botany, soil science and IPM classes, amongst other applicable classwork.
When did you join Ithaca Organics? How did you hear about them?
Trever’s family farm is one of the largest farms here in Dryden. I blindly sent my resume over before moving there mid-2019. He was growing hemp at the time, but there wasn’t the cannabis market New York State has now. Trever had been a certified organic produce farmer since the late 90’s and was in his second year growing CBD in 2019. He went big that year; my first (continued on page 12)
day on the farm, I walked into 40 acres of hemp.
I started at Ithaca Organics at the same time as I was starting my school program. I essentially farmed my way through farm school with Trever. Twenty-twenty was a very busy year for me as I was in school, working part-time for Trever and driving to my father’s farm once a week to help with his hemp crop. It was crazy.
Looking back at your career, what are you most proud of?
I'm proud and blown away that our little company with no investors and few resources has managed to survive this rocky start to the New York cannabis market. Our growing practices make me proud. As I’ve said before, we're trying to grow tasty, clean cannabis products that I, myself would want to consume.
What does it mean to you to be one of the few female head cultivators in the state's legal market?
Whether your business is focused in the medical or recreational area of cannabis, you will face both challenges and opportunities. The success of your business will rest largely on the decisions you make in the early stages. With all the risk you will face on a daily basis, having a comprehensive insurance program with a trusted partner is imperative.
I graduated in December 2020, and Trever made me the farm manager in January 2021. I took over the cannabis cultivation in Summer 2023. We ended up not doing produce last year because we had too much going on but plan to bring veggies back for the 2025 season.
I never set out for any glory in the field. For a long time, I was just trying to survive. Somehow, I've gone from surviving to thriving in this field.
JD Chapman offers special insurance for the Cannabis industry including:
An outdoor grow in Mendocino County reaches more than 6 feet tall
• Marijuana Growers / Cultivators
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•
Whether your business is focused in the medical or recreational area of cannabis, you will face both challenges and opportunities. The success of your business will rest largely on the decisions you make in the early stages. With all the risk you will face on a daily basis, having a comprehensive insurance program with a trusted partner is imperative.
JD Chapman offers special insurance for the Cannabis industry including:
• Marijuana Growers / Cultivators
• Medical / Recreational Dispensaries
• Edible Marijuana Manufacturing
• Testing Laboratories
• Hemp Growers / Cultivators
• CBD (Cannabidiol) Product Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Retailers
• Manufacturers of Cannabis-Infused Products and Oils, Waxes, and Tinctures
• Ancillary Cannabis Businesses
• Lessor’s Risk for Cannabis Related Tenants
I would like to see more women coming back to cultivation – not just cannabis, but all agriculture. In school, I wrote a paper about how agriculture was traditionally a female-oriented pursuit, but it transitioned to a male-dominated field like in the 1950s during the so-called “green revolution.”
That being said, cannabis growing isn't for everyone. I've made a lot of life choices that have allowed me to work in this manner. I'm in my 40s, I don’t have children, but at any given point in the year, I have between 400 and 4,000 babies that need my daily attendance.
What advice do you have for cultivators, especially those who are just starting out?
Grow herb that you want to consume yourself. That's a big thing for me. And also, as the industry gets more crowded, I advise people to put your blinders on, focus on your own work and don't compare yourself to other people. Stay humble, be patient, surround yourself with supportive people who are going to allow you to grow.
by Victoria Ritter photos provided
by
Chris Bacon
With the nearest dispensaries about 35 miles to the west and 20 miles to the east with closer establishments to open soon, Evergreen Retail Dispensary in Brockport is dedicated to serving the needs the area. The woman-owned dispensary is proudly celebrating its one-year anniversary this spring.
Evergreen Retail offers a clean, comfortable, rustic atmosphere. One third of the 1,800-square-foot building consists of the show floor while two thirds are reserved for inventory, security and break rooms.
Upon walking in, guests are treated to the Cozy Corner seating area. The licensed premises has an “Upstate New York vibe,” according to founder and owner Karen Tobin. A black walnut slab table made by Tobin’s husband is situated in the middle of the floor, and wood trim can be found throughout the building.
“It’s very simple. There are no neon lights, no flashy craziness. The products are the showcase – everything else is complementary,” Tobin said. “We run small and
lean, but we continue to have growth month over month.”
Evergreen Retail carries about 450 SKUs on average. It offers typical products found in a dispensary – flower, edibles, concentrates – along with unique items such as infused maple syrup and freeze pops called “potsicles.”
Pre-rolls are among the most popular products. “We even have folks who come in every day and buy one pre-roll,” Tobin explained. “It’s just because they’ve made a habit of stopping at our store, which is a testament to my team and the great job that they do; this person wants to take time out of their day to come into our store and have that experience because they enjoy it so much.”
Curating inventory is a serious business for Tobin. She has a close relationship with several companies and cultivators, as she has worked with some even before
the state legalized recreational cannabis. Suppliers include FLWR CITY, Glenna’s, Off Hours, Gage Farms, Oasis Cannabis, Lead Farmer, Empire Cannabis, Sunwalker Farms and NY Dankster.
“The success of the cannabis industry is to be determined, but during that process, I would like to work with the best people possible and give it the best go that we can,” Tobin said. “We’re super selective of about what we bring in. We sample our products before we bring them in. I’d say probably 30 to 35 percent of what is brought to us actually makes it to our shelves. We select based on what’s right for our store.”
The majority of Evergreen Retail’s customers are between 35 to 75 years old, many looking for sleep aids. Although the dispensary is located in a college town, very few students come through its doors. One college student who did visit mentioned that their mom would be comfortable in the store – which is exactly the vibe Tobin is aiming for. She hopes to provide a fun, educational space where people feel at ease, especially if it’s their first visit. “I bet we have at least 10 customers a day – even a year later – that it’s their first experience coming into a licensed dispensary,” Tobin said. “This is new for a lot of people.”
The eight-employee staff are on hand to help in various ways. Among staff members are Tobin’s husband and daughter who helps when she is home from college. While she is not old enough to legally work face-to-face with customers, she is allowed to work in the back with inventory, paperwork, shipping
and receiving.
“It’s cool that she’s learning about QuickBooks in college and then the next day I’ll say, ‘Okay, you need to work in QuickBooks,’” Tobin stated. “I’m putting my tuition investment and her knowledge to work right away. It’s fantastic.”
Even Tobin’s son helps out by organizing the dispensary’s Spotify playlist. “For my kids to watch this come to fruition from start to finish, they’ve learned so much along the way themselves,” Tobin said. “It’s pretty neat.”
Evergreen held a one-year bash on April 18 to celebrate its anniversary. The event showcased vendors
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as well as feature local businesses, food vendors and music.
But the work is just beginning for Tobin and her team. With a local bridge over the Erie Canal – which has been closed for months – slated to open in May, Tobin expects the dispensary to “experience some exponential growth.” She is mapping out an expansion for the building, possibly including a lounge area. “With the bridge coming back into service and heading into summer, we’re going to need a little bit more space in general just for our operations,” Tobin said.
For now, Tobin is focusing on refining the dispensary’s inventory to include newest and best products for her customers.
“The flower we have today is not the same quality as the flower that we had a year ago,” she observed. “It all just continues to get better. You have a lot of new microbusiness licensees coming down the line. They’re putting out phenomenal products, and we can’t wait to get them on our shelves.”
From verboten to visible
Tobin has worked in the regulated market for a little more than 10 years, serving as a chief compliance officer and cannabis consultant as well as speaking at National Cannabis Industry Association events and attending MJBizCon in its earlier years.
“The first couple years I was in the cannabis market, even though it was legal, it was still very taboo,” Tobin said. When New York legalized medical cannabis in 2014, Tobin toyed with the idea of establishing her own dispensary; as she began to work in other regulated markets, she kept her eye on that goal. She was able to secure a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license thanks to her cannabis consultancy firm and her husband’s past cannabis charges.
Evergreen Retail Dispensary held a soft opening in March 2024 with a grand opening on April 18, 2024. It was among the first 100 legal dispensaries to open in New York State.
Since opening, the community response for Evergreen has been positive. “The community has been phenomenal to us,” Tobin said. “They’ve really welcomed us, and we’ve really enjoyed being there.
“The other part that is really interesting is that the Village of Brockport is actually where one of my husband’s cannabis convictions came from. We’re operating in the village where he was arrested, and we believe that the arresting officer – who has since retired – came into the shop one day and they had a conversation about it. If you want a picture-perfect CAURD story, we might be it!”
(continued on
In turn, Tobin seeks to be an active part of the Brockport community.
As several nearby businesses are affected by the long-term bridge closure, Tobin has made a point to support them by offering exposure.
The dispensary has a donation bucket in lieu of a tip jar; every month, the dispensary matches contributions and gives all proceeds to a local charity.
“It’s breathing a lot of life into the village,” Tobin said.
Through it all, Tobin has experienced the dispensary’s journey through the eyes of her employees, family and community members. She has seen budtenders – who have gone through their own trials in the unregulated cannabis market – proudly standing behind the counter and educating people about the plant. Her kids have pointed out Evergreen stickers on cars on their travels through the region.
“We’ve all made some sacrifices for this along the way,” Tobin said. “So, to watch it actually come to fruition and open are all things to be proud of.”
To learn more about Evergreen Retail Dispensary, visit evergreennyretail.com
by Victoria Ritter
Students, vendors, chefs and leaders in the cannabis industry met for two days of networking and education as SUNY Niagara hosted its third annual Cannabis Conference on January 13 and 14.
Attendance held strong for both days. The Culinary Cannabis Conference sold out for the third year in a row at 100 attendees. On the second day, 350 guests came to the main conference.
On January 13, the Culinary Cannabis Conference at Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) featured demonstrations, speakers and almost 20 vendors. Highlights included Canadian chef Necole Hines, founder of Faded Living, who made apple cider and gave instructions on how to infuse it. She was followed by keynote speaker Stephanie Hua, founder of Mellows and author of Edibles: Small Bites for the Modern Cannabis Kitchen.
“We wanted people to get the audiences more comfortable with dosing their food and how to responsibly do so,” said Melissa Moore, event organizer.
Attendees of the culinary conference enjoyed a gluten-free, vegan lunch and dinner. Lunch included pre-plated butternut squash bisque and citrus quinoa salad. The infused dinner, held at the Savor Restaurant, featured brussels sprouts salad, pan-seared wild mushrooms with purple potato puree and apple crisp.
The Cannabis Conference on January 14 hosted 36 vendors, up from 24 last year. Moore appreciated how the speakers and vendors were able to network with visitors and build business relationships. “Attendees were able to talk with speakers very easily and have lengthy conversations with them,” she observed. “Even some of our speakers who have traveled the world to conferences said that ours was the best organized event they’ve been to. People love the world-renowned
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speakers that we bring, the vendor hall and just having space to talk with their peers.”
The Cannabis Conference complements current developments in SUNY Niagara’s cannabis program. The college is currently setting up an extraction lab and will receive an external cultivation unit later this year.
SUNY Niagara got a grant extended for another year to offer full-tuition scholarships for its cannabis courses. Meanwhile, NFCI, which already has two courses on cannabis, will introduce a cannabis certificate program in the near future.
For Moore, the Cannabis Conference strengthens her relationships within the industry as she learns what employers are looking for in potential employees. “It
also brings the employers and the students to one place,” Moore said. “That puts them right in front of the employers and they can get to know each other.”
To learn more about SUNY’s cannabis curriculum, visit sunyniagara.edu/programs/cannabis; registration is now open for the fall semester.
Next year’s SUNY Cannabis Conference is set for January 12 to 13, 2026.
From May 2 to 4, NFCI will host the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Cannabis Culinary Summit. The summit will include four educational sessions, dinner at the Niagara Falls Country Club and more. At the same time, NFCI will hold the Culinary Cannabis
Competition on May 3.
The summit, which is capped at 100 attendees, is expected to draw in executive chefs from across the country. “As many chefs are now seeing, there is a turn towards the use of cannabis in both food and beverages,” said Chef Nathan Koscielski, assistant professor of culinary arts at NFCI. “My goal is to train as many students and professional chefs how to safely and effectively work with cannabis for their business in an enjoyable and profitable way.”
NFCI’s Culinary Cannabis Competition will feature up to 18 chefs making a variety of infused culinary delights for the judges. Dishes in the last culinary competition included infused souffles, ice cream, tarts, steak, chicken breast and sauces.
“We’re taking very high-end food that people don’t generally think of infusing and infuse it,”
Koscielski stated. “We’re not doing just for the sake of infusing it, but to use the terpenes to complement the food. It’s like pairing wine with food – it amplifies the food.”
Koscielski encourages people to attend the Cannabis Culinary Summit for networking and to learn from peers in the cannabis industry.
“This is the first three-day educational summit to focus just on culinary cannabis, to my knowledge,” he said, adding that he will present at the event. “I know I’m going to learn something from each of the attendees because culinary cannabis is such a new industry. New industries need proper education. Attending to educate yourself and to educate others is what it’s all about.”
To learn more about the summit and to register, visit acfchefs.org/ACF/Events/Summits/ CulinaryCannabis.
One of the first 36 dispensary licenses to be granted in New York State, Aspire offers a boutique style shopping experience, along with the option to order online for in-store pickup. Among the options for purchase are various strains of cannabis, an assortment of edibles, pre-rolls, oils, smoking accessories, merchandise, and more.
by Janet S.
Ihave some pretty interesting stories about my experiences with cannabis…some may be hard to believe. Here are three tales – but one is a tad taller than the others. Can you guess which one it is?
It started out a night like any other. I was hanging out with my new friend, Ann, who had just rented “The Ring” from Blockbuster and invited me to watch it with her. Now I’m not one for scary movies, but at 19 years old I was still pretty easy to cave to peer pressure. As the movie started, Ann pulled a bowl out of her side table. She sparked up and then motioned to me. I had only smoked weed once before, and it wasn’t much. I admitted with great embarrassment that I’d never used a bowl and had no idea how to.
As she gave a brief explanation, I followed her instructions: plugged up the carb, brought the flame down to the weed, sucked in a little and then let the carb go and drew in a breath through the pipe. I didn’t think I got much of a hit, but I didn’t want to admit that. I passed it back to her and she put it away in her side table.
Despite my aversion to scary movies, I felt pretty relaxed while watching “The Ring.” I wondered if the light, subtle buzz I caught from that puff had anything
to do with it. About halfway through, I could feel it starting to wane. Luckily, Ann must have been feeling the same way, and out came the bowl again. This time I held the lighter on longer and sucked in deeper. This would be my undoing. I realized immediately I had made a terrible miscalculation as smoke, spit and probably a little mucus came bursting forth from my mouth and nose in a full-on assault. I coughed for dear life. The attack was so violent, Ann had to pause the movie until I was finished, laughing the whole time. She brought me some water and we resumed the movie.
I could feel the buzz coming on pretty strong now, and I was a little freaked out. That easy, relaxed feeling was now replaced with a little bit of dread and pounding heart. Through the remainder of the movie, I must’ve looked ridiculous, sitting rigidly and upright and completely still, eyes wide, jaw clenched like my soul would escape through my mouth if it opened for even a second. I couldn’t have told you what even happened in the second half of the movie.
Ann seemed to want to hang out a little longer after the movie ended, but I felt really uneasy and just wanted to get home. So I made up an excuse about needing to be up early the next day and booked it. (Disclaimer: this was a stupid idea, don’t smoke and drive.)
As I made my way along the winding back country roads, something felt very wrong, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then I looked down. I was driving 45 mph on the roads I almost never take at less than 65 mph. I shook my head and laughed a little, telling myself to get it together. I pressed down on the gas just a little harder. A moment later I looked back down, still 45 mph. I pressed harder, but went no faster.
My mind began to whirl. What was happening? Then an answer came to me as I recalled the plot of another movie I was talked into watching, “Final Destination.” Was this some deadly force causing me to maintain this speed to set me up for a car accident at just the right moment? In my mind there could be no other explanation. I was going to die tonight. Every side road, I imagined a large truck lurching out of nowhere to demolish my car and me in it. I held my breath at every curve, expecting a deer to materialize and send me veering off into a tree. My heart was racing and I began to sweat.
After what was truly 15 minutes but had felt like hours, I reached the safety of the city limits. I was nearly home. Parking in my driveway had never felt so good. I gasped in the deepest breath I’d ever taken, sitting in my car for several minutes before I regained the strength to step out and go into my house.
“Hey, how was the movie?” asked my boyfriend. I buried myself into his chest for a big hug.
“Eh, it was a little scary for me.”
It was a bright and sunny day… at least on the outside. On the inside, a storm was brewing. I was about to get in the car with my then-boyfriend, Jake. Ah Jake … remember him? We had been arguing through text all morning, but we always rode to work together since he lived right across the road and didn’t have a car. I was already dreading this car ride.
I sighed as I pulled on my hoodie and made my way out the door. I sat in the
passenger seat while he drove. Immediately the fight was on. I must have been extra spicy that day, because after just a few minutes in the car with him, I decided I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Pull over. I’m getting out,” I said angrily.
“What the hell are you doing? Are you crazy?”
“No, I’m not crazy – I’m just done with this!”
“You’re f***ing nuts,” he taunted as he pulled off to the side of the road.
As soon as the car was stopped, I got out, slipping on some ice while trying to slam shut the door and falling down. I got up in a huff and began walking back home. If I hurried, I still had time to at least call work before my shift started.
Only 10 minutes passed as I walked along the side of the highway. As I looked ahead, I saw my little green Saturn, coming towards me. Jake must have gone around the block to pick me back up. He pulled over next to where I was walking and rolled down the window.
“I’m sorry, can you please just get in the car?” he sounded sweet again, and although I didn’t buy it, I also didn’t actually want to miss work. I sighed and got in the car without saying anything. The next leg of the drive was silent except for the radio.
We got to a large intersection to turn right, but we were stopped by an ambulance doing a U-turn to stop dead in front of us. Then behind the ambulance came two sheriff cars. Another three police cars came up behind us. A moment later they were joined by a state trooper car and one more sheriff. Before we could even ask each other what was happening, they were approaching us fast.
“F***!” exclaimed Jake, “Take this, I can’t be caught with it!” He threw a pack of cigarettes at me. In the back of the pack, stuffed in the
(continued on page 26)
(continued)
over to their own car.
I looked back over my shoulder at Jake, who was standing at the back of my car talking. They were patting him down as they talked to him.
outside cellophane was a small baggie containing weed, which I knew was also mixed with cocaine. I had no time to hide it, and I just stuck the pack under the side of my leg as two sheriffs and two state troopers were approaching on the driver’s side first.
“Where are the kids?” one shouted, glancing into the back seat of the car, specifically at the empty car seat belonging to his daughter.
“Whoa, my daughter is home with my parents. We’re going to work. What’s going on?” Jake responded shakily.
“Get out of the car,” the same officer said, and Jake immediately complied. As they brought him to the back of the car, there were already two more sheriffs at my side of the car.
“We got a call that he pushed you out of the car,” one stated.
“No, we had an argument. I was mad and told him to pull over so I could get out. I fell on the ice and he drove away. Then he came back around to get me after I calmed down.” I explained.
Looking at me skeptically, the other sheriff said, “Please step out of the car.” My heart immediately began racing, knowing that when I stood up, there was a good chance they would see what my leg had been concealing.
“I don’t want to step out of the car,” I said nervously.
“Step out of the car,” he repeated.
“I really don’t want to step out of the car.” My eyes darted back and forth between the cigarette pack protruding from under my leg, and the officers who were about to discover I was in possession of illegal drugs.
“You’ll step out or we’ll remove you,” he said firmly. There was no way out, and I was sure I had already given away too much. I reached down to grab the pack, clumsily shoving it into my hoodie pocket as fast as I could. I stood up out of the car, shaking as I glanced around. We were completely surrounded. They took me
I was asked if I had any weapons (no), and then I was instructed to have a seat in the back of the sheriffs’ car. By some miracle I was not asked to empty my pockets or patted down. One of them sat in the car with me and questioned me about Jake shoving me out of the car, which I adamantly denied.
Then he asked where the kids were. I was confused about why he was even asking, but I told them Jake’s daughter was home with his parents and his son was with his own mother. By this time, the other sheriff, who had been with one state trooper next to the car, opened the door and sat with his partner. He quietly whispered something to his partner which seemed to say that it “wasn’t us” they were looking for.
I was let out of their car and walked back to my own in absolute bewilderment. Jake was already back in the driver’s seat. I got in, and Jake was wild with excitement as he told me what he’d learned.
Someone had called the police, saying it looked like he had pushed me out of the car. To make matters worse, my little green Saturn matched the description of a car that was involved in a parental kidnapping in the area that was reported not long before our incident. I was flooded with relief, but still furious that I could’ve been arrested for his drugs. I threw the cigarette pack back at him angrily as he put the car into drive, laughing like a madman at what had just happened.
The day had finally arrived! I had tickets to the Rockstar Tour at Darien Lake, which included my favorite band of all time, Avenged Sevenfold. I had waited years to finally see them live, and today my dream would be coming true. My friend Ash and I were in the parking lot, sneakily chugging as much beer as we could before entering, since we couldn’t bring it in with us and concert beer was insanely expensive. Then we walked to the far corner of the parking area, and
hid among some trees while smoking a huge joint. When we were satisfied that we were both buzzed enough, we made our way back to the car to pick up our backpacks before heading to the entrance. Ash tried to sneak another beer in his backpack, but they were checking.
“You can’t bring this in,” one of the security guards said staunchly, handing the beer to Ash.
Ash looked the guard dead in the face as he took two steps back and opened the beer. He paused, waiting for one of them to say something, but they just stared at him like they were already over it. He chugged nearly the whole thing before shooting it into the garbage can and stepping back up to them with a huge satisfied grin. The guards rolled their eyes as they took our tickets and let us through.
The concert was just beginning, and Halestorm was up first. We walked down the grassy hill to find the perfect spot. Our buzzes were already coming on in full force, and we stumbled around a little bit on the way down the hill. We were surrounded by other tokers who began freely sharing joints around. Ash passed around his own he’d snuck in as well. The night was a wild blur of excitement and intoxication. I was loving every moment.
Up next was Stone Sour, and Ash went to get us some more beers from the stand. I was already super messed up, but took it
needed to eat something, like now. I told Ash I was heading to find some food.
“You’d better hurry!” he yelled over the music. He was right. Avenged Sevenfold was up next, and they were my whole reason for coming. I rushed back towards the concessions. First, I had to hit the bathrooms. I began walking around, but I couldn’t find them. I asked a passerby, who pointed off to the right, and I rushed off in that direction. Pretty soon, I realized there were no people around me anymore, and the music was barely audible anymore. Where the hell had I gone? I turned back around and started running back in the opposite direction.
Everything was spinning a little bit, and it was getting dark. I started feeling panicked. I saw some lights off in the distance, and headed in that direction as quickly as I could. Then I realized something was wrong. As the lights got closer, the music got softer until I couldn’t hear it at all anymore. I started panicking and cursing myself for not having a cell phone yet.
“Think, Janet,” I whispered to myself. I had an idea. I climbed onto a large barrel and saw some other lights in nearly the opposite direction, and the faint outline of the Ferris wheel behind. That had to be it! I raced back towards the direction of the park, bladder threatening to burst with every step. I knew I had to stop. With no bathroom in sight, I had no choice
but to crouch behind the cover of a nearby bush before continuing my mad dash. The lights grew brighter and I could hear music again, distinctly the music of Avenged Sevenfold. I was missing it! I ran harder than I ever had in my life, tripped over my feet, and came tumbling down the hill, just in time for the second half of the song “Almost Easy.” I stood up and limped the rest of the way to Ash. “Where have you been?” he shouted. “You missed it all!” I began to cry as the lights went down and the music ended.
Guess correctly and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a free FLX420 hat! Drawing will take place July 1, 2025.
Now that cannabis is legal in New York State, I have been to a lot of dispensaries. The thing that most took me by surprise was not actually that weed was being sold legally in stores but who were the buyers.
From my first-hand experience, the people who are really going to dispensaries for their cannabis are people who have not smoked cannabis in a long time or even ever. They are mostly middle-aged people and even seniors who maybe smoked once or twice in college but gave it up shortly after, mostly because of the strict and unfair chance of losing their job over random drug tests, or because they truly believed in the laws and considered cannabis dangerous.
I do not know how long you have been smoking, but I started when I was 13, and I tell you this with full confidence that the types of cannabis products and potency have changed drastically since I started smoking 20 years ago. Just imagine you have not
smoked since the 70s, back when weed was more seeds and stems than it was flower, and you eat a 50 milligram chocolate bar. You will be alright, sure – cannabis cannot kill you – but you would probably go buy the first D.A.R.E. shirt you see and never ever try cannabis again.
So, your first big tip as a first-time smoker is to start slow and take less than you think you need to let yourself adjust to the experience.
One of the other biggest reasons people do not have success with using the plant is because of peer pressure, trying to look cool in front of more experienced smokers. This plant is unlike other substances. You have cannabinoid receptors in your brain, CB1 and CB2. Many other plants also contain cannabinoids that are beneficial. Echinacea interacts with your CB2 receptors, as well as black pepper and coneflower. Some of these help with inflammation, some with calming, but they all interact in a similar way to cannabis. You know what your body does not have? An alcohol receptor.
So, when you use cannabis, it does not necessarily force some amazing euphoric sensation on you where
all of a sudden, your problems disappear. Instead, it connects to what is already going on in your mind and body and works with those things. This is one of the reasons why you should not fall into peer pressure when using cannabis. If you are already nervous or have anxiety before smoking, the plant is very likely to intensify that feeling, especially if you take too much.
Another big thing to understand when using cannabis for the first time is that depending on how you consume it, you will get drastically different effects. I know people who only eat edibles because smoking makes them anxious. And I know people who only smoke because edibles make them too tired. The plant affects everyone differently, so you should give both edibles and smoking a fair trial before making a judgment one way or the other.
The cannabis plant is incredibly diverse and complicated. Many things contribute to the effect you get: cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes. Different varieties of cannabis contain different types and ratios of these compounds. So just because you smoked a flower with high THC, low CBD and dominant myrcene
terpenes and did not have a great experience, that does not mean you would not enjoy a flower with low THC, higher CBD and different terpenes.
I did things the opposite way when I was young. People around me would get me super, super stoned and think it was funny how high I was. In their defense, it was pretty funny how high I was, but this plant is so much more than a recreational drug for young people goofing off. It can have a real positive impact on anxiety, depression, anger, relationships and even sobriety.
If it were not for cannabis, I know that I and a lot of people close to me might still be struggling with addiction to dangerous, intoxicating and expensive substances that have taken far too many lives. We all struggle with something. Just because cannabis did not help you before does not mean it will not help you now. But always remember: start small with your dosage, avoid peer pressure and find the right strain for you.
Follow Dr. Dank on Instagram @dr.dankensteins.
Tropicana Cookies from Empire Cannabis is a vibrant sativa bred from Tangie and Girl Scout Cookies strains. Perfect for those who enjoy a cerebral buzz. Available at Evergreen Retail Dispensary evergreennyretail.com
Goodnight Guava Gummies from High Peaks feature a cannabinoid blend that offers a gentle, yet effective solution to bedtime bliss. Available at Leafy Wonders leafywonders.com Made with real fruit juice and wildflower honey, Black Cherry THC Seltzer from Tune keeps things natural. Contains 10mg THC per can. Available at Dryden Dispensary drydendispensary.com
Savor the Arrowhead 100mg Live Rosin 10Pack gummies. These limited edition infused gummies are available in strawberry kiwi flavor. sweetgrassdispo.com
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Bar from oHHo. Enjoy all the health and moodboosting benefits wrapped up in a rich, indulgent treat. Available at The Highly Connected Dispensary thehighlyconnected.com
The Full Spectrum CBD Salve from Bison Botanics comes as a 2.6-ounce roll-on stick. This salve uses a higher concentration of 99 percent CBD for direct application needs. Available at Aspire aspirecannabis.org
Support local businesses with the Buy Local, Buy Legal Tote Bag from Ithaca Organics Cannabis Co. The 100 percent cotton bag is eco-friendly and sturdy enough to hold your essentials. ithacaorganicscanna.co
The FLX Wooden Rolling Tray from Finger Lakes Cannabis Co. offers a natural touch to rolling joints. flxcannaco.com
Package your hemp in hemp with 116mm Biodegradable Hemp Plastic Pre-Roll Tubes from CannaZip. These certified child-resistant hemp tubes are a great way to reduce environmental impact while packaging pre-rolls in a secure container. cannazipbags.com
Choose from a variety of strains indica dominant, sativa dominant and hybrid – at The Budtender. Get your grow started with photo, feminized clones. thebudtender.biz
Don’t worry about knocking into crops and wasting valuable space with the Rack Collapsable Drying System. Its four separate compartments each hold 2 to 3 pounds of wet material. Pair with a digital hanging scale.
Available at Harvest Moon Hydroponics hmoonhydro.com
Recreational Dispensaries
400 River
400 River St., Troy
420 Bliss
740 Hoosick Rd., Troy
716 Cannabis 5161 Camp Rd., Hamburg
82-J Cannabis Company 1673 Hertel Ave., Buffalo
Amsterdam Cannabis 1451 State Highway 5s, Amsterdam
Aspire
205 N. Fulton St., Ithaca 607-319-4382
aspirecannabis.org
One of Ithaca’s first dispensaries, Aspire is committed to supporting local growers and giving back to the community.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thru Tuesday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday thru Sunday See ad on page 21
The Bakery Cannabis Dispensary 1099 Loudon Rd., Cohoes
Black River Supply Company 15 Bridge St., Carthage
Bob Natural Cannabis Dispensary 1067 E. 2nd St., Jamestown
Brownies 1686 Central Ave., Albany
Buddeez 1460 Lyell Ave., Suite 200, Rochester
Cannabicity
220 Harborside Dr., Suite 111, Schenectady
Cannabis Central 1520 Crescent Rd., Clifton Park
The Cannabis Store 1936 S. Park Ave., Buffalo
Capital District Cannabis and Wellness 997 Central Ave., Albany
Classy Canna 8 N. Main St., Homer
Collegetown Dispensary 105 Dryden Road, Ithaca
Command Cannabis Dispensary 3871 South Park Ave., Blasdell
Cotton Mouth Dispensary 439 Court St., Binghamton'
Cussin’s Cannabis 2075 Central Ave., Schenectady
The Dabber Hashery 1051 College Ave., Elmira
Dank716 501 Main St., Buffalo
Devil’s Lettuce 650 Orchard Park Rd., West Seneca
Diamond Tree Dispensary 2700 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse
DOSHA 76 Main St., Oneonta
Dryden Dispensary
2207 Dryden Rd., Dryden 607-708-4151
drydendispensary.com
Dryden Dispensary prides itself as a one-stop shop for all things cannabis. Voted the Best Smoke/Vape Shop in the Finger Lakes by Cayuga Media Group in 2024.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
See ad on page 10
East Leaf Dispensary 2442 Clinton St., Cheektowaga
Electric City Cannabis 1354 Lower Broadway, Schenectady
Ether Buffalo 5100 Genesee St., Unit 4, Buffalo
Evergreen Retail
51 N. Main St., Brockport 585-391-3474
evergreenretail.com
This woman-owned dispensary seeks to provide top-quality cannabis products and exceptional customer service in a welcoming and educational environment.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
See ad on pages 26-27
Evexia Cannabis 217 Guidebook Rd., Halfmoon
Exit 31 Exotic 255 Genesee St., Utica
FingerLakes Cannabis Co.
5 Railroad St., Victor 585-407-8000
flxcannaco.com
Owned by locals who have been part of the Victor community for nearly 50 years, FingerLakes Cannabis Co. provides cannabis and CBD products alongside gifts, candles, merchandise and more.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Saturday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
See ad on page 13
Flower City Dispensary
8053 Pittsford Victor Rd., Victor
FlynnStoned Cannabis
219 Walton St., Syracuse
FlynnStoned Oswego 143 George St., Oswego
FlynnStoned Rochester 125 State St., Rochester
Good Life Collective
155 Monroe Ave., Rochester
Gotham 260 Warren St., Hudson
Grass & Goodness
1650 Crane St., Schenectady
Greenery Spot
246 Main St., Johnson City
Green Philosophy 716
101 Slade Ave., West Seneca
Greens Greenery
54 State Highway 357, Unadilla
Greenside Cannabis
12317 Vaughn St., East Concord
Happy Times Cannabis Co.
3807 Harlem Rd., Cheektowaga
Hazy Daze
332 Broad St., Waverly
Herbal IQ
6055 Transit Rd., Depew
The Herb Cave 519 State Route 3, Plattsburgh
The Higher Co. 123 E. Willow St., Syracuse
Higher Tolerance
121 South Pearl St., Albany
The Highly Connected Dispensary
423 Franklin St., Ithaca 607-319-0420
thehighlyconnected.com
The Highly Connected Dispensary embodies a comprehensive approach to cannabis. Its selection is hand selected by its founder and expert team.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday
See ad on inside front cover
High Peaks Canna 137 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs
High Points Dispensary 811 Canandaigua Rd., Geneva
High Society Dispensary
345 Main St., Suite 2, Hudson Falls
High Tide Dispensary
1829 Como Park Blvd., Lancaster
Hold Up Roll Up
196 Washington Ave., Albany
Honey Kenmore 2981 Delaware Ave., Kenmore
Joe’s Buds 4658 Onondaga Blvd., Syracuse
Just Breathe
75 Court St., Binghamton
Just Breathe Finger Lakes 2988 Auburn Rd., Tyre
Just Breathe Syracuse 185 W. Seneca St., Manlius
The Kokoro Way Cannabis 2454 Elmwood Ave., Kenmore
Leaf Plug 3341 Sheridan Dr., Amherst
Leafy Peaks 27 Saratoga Ave., Waterford
Leafy Wonders
956 S. 1st St., Fulton 315-887-1900
leafywonders.com
Committed to providing high-quality products and promoting responsible cannabis use.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday thru Saturday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday See ad on page 37
Legacy Dispensary 1839 Central Ave., Colonie
Lifted 320 N. Main St., Jamestown
Loudpack Exotics 6606 Kinne Rd., Syracuse
Luxus Botanica 8234 Turin Rd., Ste 1, Rome
Mammoth Cannabis 212 Ohio St., Buffalo
Mary Janes – A Legacy 2
Legal Dispensary 2179 Sheridan Dr., Tonawanda
Misfits Dispensary
420 Jefferson Rd., Suite 2, Rochester
Mister Greens 81 Wolf Rd., Colonie
MJ Dispensary 900 Jefferson Rd., Suite 902, Rochester
Native Haze 1503 Canandaigua Rd., Macedon
Northern Lights
100 Broadway, Unit 8, Menands
Peace, Love, & Bud 320 S. Transit St., Lockport
The People’s Joint 501 State St., Schenectady
Phenos 69 Allen St., Buffalo
The Phinest Buds 576 Dick Rd., Suite 10, Depew
Premier Earth Corp 1297 Hertel Ave., Buffalo
Public Flower 232 Allen St., Buffalo
Puffalo Dreams 900 Niagara Falls Blvd., Buffalo
Raven’s Joint 4106 NY-31, Suite 903, Clay
Reef Dispensary 532 Route 9N, Greenfield Center
Ripe Cannabis 245 Broadway, Suite 4, Schenectady
RISE Dispensary
1675 Route 9, Clifton Park
6701 Manlius Center Rd., East Syracuse
556 W. Jefferson Rd., Henrietta
Robinson’s Dispensary 106 Everett Rd., Albany
ROC Dispensary 324 Jefferson Rd., Rochester
Rochester’s Finest Cannabis Dispensary 74 Lake Ave., Rochester
Royale Flower 350 Northern Blvd., Albany
RR Legacy Dispensary 12 Hudson Ave., Glens Falls
Sacred Bloom 1308 Vestal Parkway East, Vestal
Salmon River Cannabis Company 3808 Rome Rd., Pulaski
Sashies Dispensary 201 Northline Rd., Ballston Spa
Satisfied Mind 31 Webster St., North Tonawanda
Secret Garden 716 1363 Delaware Ave., Buffalo
Sessco Cannabis Dispensary 115 Main St., East Rochester
Silver Cannabis Company 75 Weibel Ave., Saratoga Springs
Stage One Dispensary 810 Broadway, Unit C, Rensselaer
Star Buds 396 Kenmore Ave., Buffalo
State of Mind Dispensary 521 Troy-Schenectady Rd., Latham
Legal dispensaries and CBD shops in the Finger Lakes Region
Sunwalker Farms
101 Eastern Blvd. Canandaigua, NY 14424
Sweet Grass Dispensary
123 Cayuga St., Union Springs
126 E. Bayard St., Seneca Falls 315-889-9077
sweetgrassdispo.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday thru Sunday See ad on inside back cover
THTree 12187 Rte. 9W, West Coxsackie
TJ’s Cannabis Co. 4205 Long Branch Rd., Suite 5, Liverpool
Transcend Wellness 289 Oakwood Ave., Troy
TreeHead Culture 665 North French Rd., Amherst
Twisted Cannabis 501 Exchange St., Geneva
Upstate Exotics 9200 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls
Upstate Canna Co. 1613 Union St., Schenectady
VedaLeaf 2921 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse
Verilife East Syracuse 5841 Bridge Street, Ste 100, East Syracuse
The Village Green Dispensary
New Hartford Shopping Ctr., Ste. 41, New Hartford
Wilde Roots
4179 State Rte. 20, Castleton
Wild Flower Dispensary
41 E. Genesee St., Auburn
William Jane Dispensary 119 East State St., Ithaca
Yeti Canna
1385 Abbott Rd., Lackawanna
Medical Dispensaries
Be. Ithaca
700 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca
Etain 2140 Erie Blvd., East Syracuse
RISE Dispensary
1675 Route 9, Clifton Park
556 W. Jefferson Rd., Henrietta
Sunnyside Medical Cannabis
Dispensary - Mohawk Valley 4776 Commercial Dr., New Hartford
Verilife
10 Executive Park Dr., Albany
25 N. Pointe Parkway, #30, Amherst
642 Old Liverpool Rd., Liverpool
Vireo Health of New York
38 Fuller Rd., Albany
CBD Shops
Above All
372 Exchange St., Geneva
Acadia Canna & Kratom
1971 E. Ridge Rd., Irondequoit
2137 Five Mile Line Rd., Penfield
439 Monroe Ave., Rochester
140 Phoenix Mills Plaza, Victor
Allnatural CBD Store 2453 Lyell Rd., Rochester
Bodymind Float Center 622-1 Park Ave., Rochester
Buddeez LLC 1460 Lyell Ave., #200, Rochester
Canna Health and Wellness 6075 E. Henrietta Road, Rush
CBD Source
1651 Nathaniel Poole Trail, Brockport
3944 New York 281, Cortland 6750 Route 31, Newark
2851 W. Henrietta Rd., Rochester
1011 W. Genesee St., Syracuse
Evolve CBD 12 South St., Auburn 5 Main St., Cortland
123 W. Broadway, Fulton
Glenna’s CBD 7979 Pittsford Victor Rd., Victor
Glenna’s CBD & Spa 12 Corners Plaza Brighton
Grassroots Wellness NY
350 W. Commercial St., East Rochester
HempSol CBD 1425 Jefferson Rd., #2, Rochester
Lift Off Smoke Shop 644 Monroe Ave., Rochester
Paper & Leaf Hemp Company 41 New Hartford Shopping Center, New Hartford
1900 Brewerton Rd., Syracuse
Phiff CBD 1 East Ave., #575, Rochester
Stout’s Hemp Shop –CBD Store 821 Danby Road, Suite B, Ithaca
Syracuse Hemporium 320 Northern Lights Plaza, Syracuse
Vaping Bad 185 S. Main St., Canandaigua
48 Castle St., Geneva
Your CBD Store 5843 Transit Rd., East Amhearst
129 W. Commercial St., #1, East Rochester
4154 McKinley Pkwy, Suite 800, Hamburg
3317 Chambers Rd., Horseheads
308 E. Seneca St., Ithaca
3191 Delaware Ave., Kenmore
1901 Vestal Pkwy East, Suite 1B, Vestal
Want your dispensary to stand out in FLX420 Magazine?
Advertise in the next issue and receive a free dispensary profile with your logo featured in the directory.
Contact Amy at amy@flx420.com to learn more.
(continued from page 38)
and puts all its energy into making dank buds. At this point, it needs less nitrogen and way more phosphorus and potassium to boost bud production and resin development. Micronutrients like zinc, boron and manganese help crank up the flavors, smells and potency. Switching to a bloom formula here is key.
Alright don’t mess this part up. For the last one to two weeks, stop feeding nutrients and just flush your plants with pH balanced water. This gets rid of any leftover salts and makes your weed taste way smoother when you smoke it. Skip the flush and you’ll be coughing up fertilizer flavored smoke.
Keep it simple with a two- or three-part nutrient system. pH matters, so keep it between 6.0 and 6.5 in soil and 5.8 and 6.2 in hydro or coco for max absorption. Watch your plants. Yellowing leaves, curling or burnt tips
mean you need to adjust your feeding. Use clean water. Tap water can have too many minerals, so let it sit in a bucket for 24 hours or more before using. Run an aerator to circulate the water if you can. Stick to the basics, keep an eye on your plants and before you know it, you’ll be harvesting some killer buds. Keep it simple, have fun, and happy growing.
by Levi LeGrow
Congratulations, so you’re finally growing your own weed. But now you’re staring at a wall of nutrients at the hydro store, wondering if you need a PhD in plant science just to get started. Don’t worry, feeding your plants isn’t rocket science. Just keep it simple and your plants will thank you. Cannabis just needs the right stuff at the right time. That means giving it food that helps it grow strong, produce big, healthy buds and bring out the best flavors and aromas. We’re talking about macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – the MVPs of plant food. Then you got the little guys like calcium, magnesium and iron which help keep things running smoothly.
some mad scientist. Just grab a pre-mixed nutrient system from your local hydroponics store. They come in two or three parts, with most brands providing a feeding chart that tells you exactly what to use and when.
Vegetative stage (weeks three to six)
Seedling stage (first two weeks)
At this point, your plants are just babies, so don’t drown them in nutrients. If you’re growing in soil, just water with pH balanced water between 6.0 and 6.5 and let nature do its thing. If you’re running hydro or coco, a tiny bit of seedling nutrients at one quarter strength can help, but don’t overdo it.
Now your plant starts growing like crazy, so it needs more nitrogen to push out those big green leaves. Phosphorus and potassium help with root strength, and a little extra calcium and magnesium –especially in coco or hydro – will keep things healthy. Stick to your feeding schedule and watch your plants explode.
Flowering stage (weeks seven to 10 or more)
This is where the magic happens. Your plant stops stretching (continued on page 37)
If you’re new to this, don’t start mixing a million different bottles like Grow #1 (Spring 2022 issue)
BioThrive Bloom, BioThrive Grow and BioThrive CAMG+ Grow #2 (Spring 2023 issue)
LEARN FROM INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
COU RSE S O F FERED
Cannabis Production
Medical Applications of Cannabis
Culinary Cannabis and Edibles
Culinary Cannabis Extracts, Isolates, and Concentrates
Cannabis Policy, Society & Compliance
Cannabis Products & Technologies
Cannabis Pest Management
Biology of Cannabis
PATH WAYS
• AAS degree, 1-year certificate
• SUNY-approved Microcredentials
• Senior scholars (60+) free
• Workforce Development, low-cost
