Daron Hudson, a multifaceted entrepreneur and social worker, shared his journey from Housing Works to establishing Sanctuary Garden, a mission-driven cannabis dispensary in New York. Sanctuary Garden aims to provide care and invest in the community, navigating the complex and challenging New York cannabis market, which is characterized by regulatory issues and illicit sales. Hudson emphasized the crucial role of "justice involved" operators and highlighted Sanctuary Garden's dedication to community focus and strategic partnerships as it prepares for its grand opening at 2610 Broadway. The discussion also touched upon the significant bureaucratic hurdles involved in the licensing process.
Hudson detailed the transition from Housing Works, where he lacked equity due to nonprofit license limitations, leading to the creation of Sanctuary Garden. He explained how the initial card license program evolved into the Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program, despite facing regulatory gaps, predatory loans, high fees, and inspection hurdles. A key point of the discussion was the importance of the term "justice involved" over "social equity," recognizing legacy operators who built the cannabis market and were disproportionately affected by the war on drugs. The pervasive issue of illicit cannabis sales in New York was also addressed, with Hudson attributing some responsibility to the state for allowing unlicensed smoke shops to proliferate before full recreational legalization.
The conversation also covered funding and support for CAURD licensees, with state grants being mentioned as helpful despite initial program challenges. Hudson underscored the necessity of strategic partnerships, such as with Indoor Trees for Sanctuary Garden, and the resilience required to navigate the legal cannabis market. Sanctuary Garden's upcoming grand opening at 2610 Broadway was announced, with Hudson aiming for sales by mid-July after initial inspections. Hudson highlighted Sanctuary Garden's commitment to stocking products from minority-owned and mom-and-pop manufacturers, and emphasized the importance of community engagement beyond just sales, reflecting on the challenging yet rewarding licensing process and expressing anticipation for the grand opening.