BUFFALO, N.Y. — Allentown is home to Buffalo's 5th state-licensed cannabis dispensary, the first that is Black and woman-owned.
Public Flower opened its doors Monday at 232 Allen St. for customers. The shop is owned by Sheldon Anderson and Moriah Kelly.
The Public Flower team first applied for their license in September 2022.
"We were awarded the license in July of 2023," Anderson said. "Prior to July, there was some injunctions and some issues."
Ultimately the lawsuit was resolved by November 2023, and Public Flower worked to get their state-licensed shop open.
"This support is not just about business, but it's about ushering in a new era of Economic Development and Community Enrichment," said Public Flower CTO Moriah Kelly.
The state's rollout of its retail cannabis program has been marred with lawsuits and delays.
Governor Hochul, while in Buffalo last week, expressed her frustration with the program.
"Last time I was here, I voiced my extreme displeasure at the rate of the rollout," Hochul said. "I'm not satisfied."
In her 2022 executive budget, Gov. Hochul projected that the state would bring in $1.25B in tax revenue from the retail cannabis program.
Two years, and multiple lawsuits, later, the state hasn't.
According to data available from the state office of taxation and finance, the adult cannabis program brought in $1.2M in tax revenue in FY2022-2023, and so far in FY2023-2024, the state collected $24.8M.
While there has been a noticeable jump in revenue for the state, it's still a far cry from the projections.
"I can understand the governor's frustration because it has taken a long time," said Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. "We just got to be patient, we've just got to see this thing through, it is going to happen."
Another state-licensed shop is expected to open on Thursday in Buffalo, called Puffalo Dreams.