Five years have passed since the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was signed into law on March 31, 2021.
The legislation immediately permitted possession of up to three ounces of cannabis and established a legal framework for issues like retail sales and taxation.
Some people who live outside New York state are crossing state lines to get their hands on the product.
Stefanie Watson, 53, lives in Erie, Pennsylvania and made the half-hour drive to Organic Blooms, a relatively new cannabis dispensary in New York.
She uses cannabis both recreationally and medically for her arm, anxiety and stress.
“It brings me down,” Watson said. “It’s fresh product, it’s not dried out. It’s not a bunch of buds in a jar.”
The dispensary is only a few miles from Pennsylvania, where recreational use of marijuana is still illegal.
Only medical use of cannabis has been legal in PA since 2016 for patients with a valid state-issued ID card.
“It’s still convenient for me to come here, rather than have to go, spend all the extra money for the doctor appointment and the license,” she said.
“It’s just a wild new world, I guess I would say. [It’s the] perfect spot, right? Right off the 86 there,” said Michelle Brumagin, owner of Organic Blooms.
Brumagin has only been open for about six months in an industry now celebrating five years since recreational cannabis was made legal for people 21 and older.
She says while the licensing process was a challenge, mainly because of the state’s stringent regulations, she’s now able to offer sealed and safe products like flower, pre-rolls, gummies, vapes, edibles and soda.
“It’s very rewarding,” Brumagin said. “The people that come in here are amazing, willing to learn, wanting to learn. Stigma, I think, is being broke a little bit. So that makes me happy cause I was part of the stigma too. That’s how I was raised.”
Brumagin says a majority of customers are purchasing products for medical use, and estimates 40-50% of her business comes from residents in PA and Ohio.
“[I’m] not surprised. Not surprised at all. I’m very grateful. Very grateful for them,” she said.
Like Watson, who is equally grateful for the short trip to get what she needs.
“Like really cool, really happy it’s right here,” she said.
Brumagin says Organic Blooms is also giving back to the community, as a portion of the retail excise tax goes back to the town to help fund a variety of projects.