Ithaca celebrated the grand opening of its first-ever marijuana dispensary, William Jane, on March 16th. It is located at 119 E. State St and is the first dispensary in Upstate New York to receive support from the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund. Here’s a closer look at Ithaca’s first legal marijuana dispensary.
Limited Options Before William Jane
Previously, cannabis consumers in Ithaca could only visit unlicensed cannabis retail operations called “sticker shops” or rely on black-market dealers. However, all adults aged 21 and older can now purchase cannabis with a guarantee of product safety from William Jane.
The Owner
William Durham, a Binghamton local entrepreneur and businessman, is the owner of William Jane. He received his retail cannabis license last year with the assistance of the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund. To be eligible for a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries license, applicants must have prior qualifying business experience with sole control of the business and a significant presence in New York State, as well as have been justice-involved.
Legalization of Cannabis in New York
New York legalized cannabis in 2021, prioritizing those most affected by the prohibition of marijuana. Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) stated in a press release announcing the dispensary, “With the opening of William Jane in Ithaca, we’re continuing to build an adult-use cannabis industry in our state that works to offset the harms caused by disproportionate arrests made during cannabis prohibition. As more dispensaries like this open across New York State, consumers now have the option to buy legal, safer products while also reinvesting in their communities.”
Positive Response From the Community
Around 40 Ithacans lined up for the dispensary’s grand opening at 4:20 p.m. Many expressed their excitement to The Sun about the first legal dispensary in their hometown and no longer needing to drive out of town to purchase weed. With the opening of William Jane, the state Office of Cannabis Management has begun the process of shutting down unlicensed sticker shops in Ithaca, intending to create a safer community for Ithaca residents.
Job Opportunities and Support for the Local Community
William Jane is still in the process of hiring more employees. It offers job opportunities for many locals and allows people to be part of a new change in the Ithaca community. DIA executive director Gary Ferguson said, referring to locations in New York with legal weed dispensaries, “You know these are great locations where people [can] start new businesses for their families and friends, but more importantly, employment opportunities with the community serving good cannabis that is tested and high quality.”
Importance of Product Safety
Durham emphasized the importance of having locally sourced and tested products that are safe for the Ithaca community. He plans to host jazz and art shows at his dispensary, creating a fun and safe space for consumers. “With a lot of college kids being in the area and their parents still kind of worried about some of the products that they’re smoking, you know this is something you don’t have to worry about [at William Jane],” Durham said.
Mixed Business Opinions
While the dispensary has been welcomed by many, some local businesses like Sunny Days of Ithaca, located a few doors down from William Jane, have mixed opinions about the new dispensary opening. Todd Kurzweil, who is married to the owner of Sunny Days Deirdre Kurzweil, mentioned how he never thought a day like this would come. “I never thought it would happen in my lifetime that [marijuana] would actually become socially acceptable,” Kurzweil said. However, he also acknowledged the importance of personal responsibility, stating, “Hopefully, people are responsible for the choices that they’re making.”
