NY Cannabis is coming and the real fire isn’t anywhere near the city. There has been a lot of hype around New York and cannabis legalization. This story is decades old and always connected to political bargaining for the left vote. Now that legalization is seriously on the table, it has become a bidding war for who can influence the regulatory aspect in the recreational market. While there are plenty of sources covering the hype and the brutal gauntlet to be deemed “the best” in NY weed. We like to reflect on life as it is happening and keep it chill.
Listen, we’re from NY and we know the city talks. Sure the person who wins best at weed will have the title, but they will resemble something of an Eric Trump rather than some old head. They’ll pay for it too! It is always interesting watching a new market unfurl. The cash grabbers, the fame whores, policy finger wagglers are all the same crew, state after state. If you want to keep up on that, WeedWeek and Beard Brothers do a great job at giving the play by play.
We visited our old stomping grounds and a sweet grow just down the street from where I went to JR High in Rome, NY. This is the region. Central NY. If you are looking for lots of space and cheap real estate, look no further! So much of NY publicity goes towards the city that many people do not realize what an outdoor wonderland this region truly is. Mostly comprised of abundant farmland, you can find sweeping landscapes of moderately sized mountains with rivers and lakes nestled in the valleys. The locals love the outdoors, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, swimming, boating, snowboarding, it is all there. You know what goes great with all of that? Yeah, cannabis, and also contemplation, relaxation, and simpler times.
I have nostalgia for this place. It was awesome to see after 20 years, the stoop where we would sell on the weekends, and the crates where my friends and I would smoke out restaurant chefs in exchange for monster feasts, they were all still there. When we were invited to visit a micro-tier license hopeful, doing what we dreamed of back then, we couldn’t say no.
We rolled up to an unassuming farmhouse just outside the main town and we were greeted by an artist and a grower. The artist curates the land and the grower, a former combat veteran, tends to the garden. This is a modest sized operation, clean, really tightly organized to accommodate growth cycles. I was presented with the sweetest jars, each had it’s own strain. Some even had hand written notes on the genetics, terpene profiles, and unique experiences.
We sat in the garden surrounded by sculptures and nature. The air was sweet and we smoked Member Berry. This strain was pretty heady and delightful. It is one of those strains that will open my eyes to inspiration everywhere. We all chatted for a while, strolled through the garden, and up and around a massive structure that housed a fire pit, sauna, and several lookout towers to watch the sunset.
They want to gain access to a micro-tier hospitality license. The grower wants to teach people how to tend to the earth through regenerative farming techniques and the artist wants to host people on the property for immersive cannabis experiences. These folks are right on target with the cannabis vibe of the region, respect the land and bask in its beauty.
After our trip we were informed that the grower entered a local cannabis cup and won overall flower with their White Wedding strain. Congrats, ya’ll!