From Cannabis Arrest to Dispensary Ownership – The Owner of Dazed

A new legal dispensary has opened in New York City, and it is owned by individuals who are Black and veterans. A new cannabis dispensary, Dazed Cannabis, has recently opened its doors in the five boroughs, becoming the fifth legal dispensary in the area.

The ownership of the business is shared by Keshawn Warner, Rich Rainone, and Chris Vianello. Three individuals have successfully obtained a license under the state's Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program. This program has granted the first adult-use retail dispensary licenses to individuals who have been impacted by the justice system.

The Owner of DazedPhoto byBusiness Insider

In 2008, Warner, a resident of Harlem, was apprehended during a sting operation for attempting to purchase marijuana. A surprising turn of events unfolded for him as he faced challenges in securing employment due to his arrest.

However, little did he know that this setback would eventually pave the way for a remarkable opportunity. Several years later, it became clear that his past arrest played a pivotal role in enabling him to establish a highly successful million-dollar weed dispensary in his hometown.

New York State is implementing the CAURD program as part of their strategy to distinguish their legal market launch from California and other states. Damian Fagon, the Chief Equity Officer at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, emphasizes that justice and representation are the key focal points of the state's rollout strategy.

New York is taking action through CAURD and other initiatives to address the impact of the war on drugs and the criminalization of marijuana. The aim is to provide retroactive justice to the communities that were most affected.

"This is the main focus of our equity initiatives across the entire state." "New York, in response to four decades of prohibition and heavy policing in minority communities, took a unique approach compared to other states when launching their legal market," Fagon explained. "Our focus was on prioritizing those who were most affected by prohibition, ensuring that they are the first to benefit from the legal market," the speaker explained.

The Source: nbcnewyork