Leafly, one of the world’s most recognized cannabis discovery marketplaces has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the New York Cannabis Retail Association (NYCRA), a non-profit collective of licensed dispensary owners in New York. Together, these two forces aim to strengthen the legal cannabis industry in the state by promoting sustainability, equity, and local economic support. This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the growth of New York’s legal cannabis scene and sends a strong message: collaboration is key.
Focus on Building an Inclusive, Sustainable Cannabis Industry
At the core of this partnership is a shared vision to cultivate a more sustainable and inclusive cannabis industry. Leafly and NYCRA plan to launch several industry events throughout 2024, raising awareness about the importance of shopping locally and legally. These events will also focus on educating New Yorkers about the economic benefits of supporting legal cannabis businesses, which are fully regulated, tested, and held to high standards for product safety. The focus keyphrase for this initiative is clear: legal and local cannabis.
Consumers need to understand the impact of their purchasing decisions. By buying legal cannabis products that are grown, cultivated, and sold in New York, they are directly supporting the local economy. This, in turn, helps create jobs, boosts tax revenues for public projects, and ensures the cannabis supply chain remains strong and sustainable.
Facing Unfair Competition in New York’s Cannabis Market
One of the most significant challenges that the legal cannabis market in New York faces is the proliferation of unlicensed retailers. Unregulated cannabis, often sold in unlicensed stores, creates confusion among consumers and poses serious competition for legal dispensaries. Leafly’s CEO, Yoko Miyashita, highlights the detrimental effects of this unfair competition, noting that “licensed retailers are forced to compete against thousands of unlicensed operators who sell unregulated cannabis to both residents and tourists.”
The effects of this competition are clear: consumers are left vulnerable to purchasing untested and potentially unsafe products. As the first cannabis marketplace to operate in New York, Leafly has witnessed these struggles firsthand and is now doubling down on efforts to help legal businesses thrive in the face of a difficult regulatory environment.
NYCRA: A Voice for New York Dispensary Owners
The New York Cannabis Retail Association (NYCRA) was co-founded by prominent license holders such as Jayson Tantalo, Brittni Tantalo, and Coss Marte. The organization acts as a private network for dispensary owners to share resources and ideas as they navigate the complexities of the legal market. NYCRA operates under the mantra “Collaboration Over Competition”—a statement that echoes its mission to bring dispensary owners together in pursuit of long-term success and industry equity.
“We’re working tirelessly to make sure that legal cannabis is represented the right way in New York,” says Jayson Tantalo, Vice President of Operations at NYCRA. “Partnering with Leafly allows us to raise more awareness within the community and remind people that buying from licensed dispensaries means they’re not only getting safe, regulated products but also supporting their local neighborhoods.”
The Path Ahead: Raising Awareness and Empowering Consumers
Leafly’s commitment to New York’s cannabis industry goes beyond this new partnership. Both Leafly’s website and app have long served as trusted resources for cannabis enthusiasts, providing detailed information about local dispensaries and educating users on the benefits of legal, tested products. By working alongside NYCRA, Leafly hopes to amplify this message across the state.
This partnership will ensure that New Yorkers are better informed about the options available to them in the legal market. As awareness grows, so too will the demand for legal cannabis, empowering both consumers and local business owners to succeed in a competitive environment.
Conclusion
Leafly’s partnership with NYCRA represents a crucial step toward building a more equitable and sustainable cannabis market in New York. By encouraging consumers to choose legal dispensaries and supporting local economies, the collaboration emphasizes that cannabis is not just a product—it’s a tool for positive community growth.
For more information about how Leafly and NYCRA are supporting the legal cannabis industry in New York, visit Leafly.com and follow upcoming events and campaigns.
