First dispensary from social equity applicant launches in Greenwich Village as a pop-up

will be stationed in critical areas.

BY DEBRA BORCHARDT, GREEN

Smacked, the rst legal cannabis dispensary from a social equity applicant directly a ected by the War on Drugs, began sales at its in Greenwich Village location Jan. 24. Owner Roland Conner had been incarcerated for possession of cannabis and had marijuana-related convictions dating back to 1991.

e store on Bleecker Street opened as a pop-up until it undergoes construction for a few months to transform it into its permanent iteration.

Reuben McDaniel, president and CEO of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and a board member of the Ofce of Cannabis Management, noted that the permanent store was waiting on a nal design from the California-based Temeka Group, which is handling store design for the social equity applicants.

e idea of a cannabis pop-up is unusual considering how other states tightly control security requirements. e current con guration doesn’t allow for standard security features, such as access cards to enter secure areas. Instead, armed guards

“What we decided to do with the assessments and stu we’re doing with the properties takes time to get the plans done. So the thought process was, let’s do the popup and get sales going," said Mike Wilson, founder of Temeka Group. " at also acclimates Roland and the team on how to run the store, because there’s a lot of pressure.” e store had a small selection of products in cases and two ATM machines near the front. It will be equipped with retail software from Dutchie, which said it was providing software for free to the social equity applicants. ough the OCM has said the licensed stores would be spread out, Smacked is only a 10-minute walk from the rst licensed dispensary by the nonpro t group Housing Works. at store, meanwhile, has received several negative reviews on Yelp for the expense and quality of the product.

Wilson said that the pop-up store would be compliant with the rules and regulations established by the OCM.

A second chance

At the press event announcing Smacked's launch, Conner and his family were visibly emotional to be opening a store selling a product for which he had once been arrested and spent time behind bars. His wife shed tears, and his son was on hand to hear about the store having the potential to create generational wealth.

Conner noted that he preferred to describe himself as an entrepreneur versus an ex-con.

“New York is doing something amazing. Everybody deserves a chance," he said. "You do your time; you come out. ey should not hold that against you. I served my time, and now I’m here."

With regard to competition from unlicensed operators, Conner said, “I come from that. At the end of the day, they should be supported. [ e state] should give them the opportunity to make the transition from illegal to legal. ey should be helping them to do that. "

Former basketball star Chris Webber, a

Detroit native, was on hand for the opening announcement. He helps lead the fundraising e orts for a $200 million fund to support the social equity applicants.

“Roland has done a great job," he said, "and his empathy transcends the walls of his store.”

However, when asked for speci cs on the current status of the fund, which has been questioned for its lack of transparency, Webber noted that the only conversation happening that day would be about the opening of Conner’s location.

“Today we are opening the rst social equity store in the state of New York, and I think that’s a pretty big update," Webber said. ■