Ryan Martin admits getting a retail cannabis dispensary operational is no easy feat. "There have been many challenges," said Martin, owner of MJ Dispensary in Henrietta. "But I couldn't be happier with the results."
Since opening in December 2023, the business has found its footing. Employment has grown to 23 workers from 13, and the dispensary has expanded its vendor network to 100 from 40. Martin also is preparing to launch a second location in the Rochester area. While challenges remain—among them strict advertising restrictions, diligence in product ordering and employee retention — Martin credits product variety, a focus on customer education and strong business advisors for the company's early success.
Nabis, a licensed wholesale platform, operates its main New York fulfillment center in Rochester has likened the supply chain to a negotiating table with different parties, such as retailers, distributors and processors — all with competing needs.
More than 150 dispensaries across New York — including some in the Finger Lakes — are impacted by the state's revised interpretation of the 500-foot buffer between dispensaries and schools. Some operators are suing the state over the matter, and Klimek noted that the dispute may ultimately need to be resolved by lawmakers.
Read more at Rochester Business Journal
