A year ago, Highlife Health opened its doors as New Rochelle’s first licensed, women-owned cannabis dispensary. It was a proud moment, not just for me, but for the community that supported us. Since then, we’ve grown our space, created jobs, and contributed more than $400,000 in tax revenue to the State of New York and the City of New Rochelle. That money is going directly back into our community to support roads, schools, and other needed infrastructure that makes New Rochelle New Rochelle. I’m honored to do this.
But with that growth has come challenges I never could have imagined.
Just yesterday, I walked into a corner store in my own neighborhood and was casually offered four different strains of cannabis. The store is unlicensed, unregulated, and selling to minors. And it’s not the only one. Within walking distance of my business, multiple unlicensed shops are openly operating, with no testing, no oversight, and no concern for safety.
Meanwhile, my dispensary follows every regulation, invests heavily in compliance, and pays taxes that directly support our city. Yet when I ask for enforcement, I’m told the city doesn’t have the authority, and the county doesn’t have the resources. I’m expected to sit idly as illegal businesses not only put kids at risk, but also threaten the survival of compliant small businesses like mine.
What troubles me most isn’t just the unfair competition; it’s the danger to our community. These illegal operators sell untested products that could contain harmful substances. They market directly to young people. And they fuel the stigma around cannabis that I and many others in the legal industry have worked tirelessly to break by showing what a safe, legal, and responsible dispensary can look like.
I’ll admit, there are days when I sit at my desk in tears, wondering if fighting this uphill battle is worth it. But I know it is. Because this fight is bigger than me. It’s about proving that compliance matters, that safety matters, and that small businesses who play by the rules deserve a fair chance to succeed.
It’s time for real enforcement. Our community can’t afford to wait any longer.
