The 420 Friendly Flower City
Rise Dispensary in Henrietta, NY
For many, today is a celebration of Easter Sunday: painting eggs, the Easter Bunny, chocolate rabbits, and spending quality time with family. However, each year on 4/20, another celebration sparks for enthusiasts who partake in various methods of consuming Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC. Since the legalization of marijuana in New York through the enactment of the ‘Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act’ codified on March 31, 2021, cannabis dispensaries have seen major growth and development across the Empire State.
Right here in the Flower City and the Greater Rochester metropolitan region, new dispensaries have entered the scene, delivering high-quality products for all forms of consumption and preferences. It is a period in our time that has 420 enthusiasts thrilled to shop locally for products ranging from: dank flowers, sweet and tart edibles, vapes, chocolate bars, and refreshing flavored beverages.
The Good Life Collective on Monroe Avenue in Downtown Rochester, NY
I want to pause for a second to clarify, this written work is not merely the rambling of a marijuana-crazed nerd sitting behind the keyboard advocating for an uninvited call to use THC products. Rather, it is to highlight the shift in perspectives on the use of cannabis for both medicinal and recreational purposes. There is an array of longitudinal studies that highlight the clinical benefits of safely and appropriately consumed marijuana products, ranging from pain management, anxiety, and for the calming benefits for a better sleep. Further, with proper refinement and continued research, we may very well see the expansion and creation of medicinal products to heal ailments for illnesses across the spectrum.
But today is 420, and while there is much to say about the benefits of adding THC to one’s routine, all of this would be missing the point if I failed to simply state that this holiday is about taking a break. It is about sparking up a doobie (or whatever your preferred method of consumption is) and reminding yourself that it is fine to not stress too much once in a while.
All across the Greater Rochester region, dispensaries are opening up that are NYS-regulated and maintain a wide variety of products to satisfy the needs of many. It is simply about finding what is right for you. Which can range from low to high doses measured in 2, 5, and 10+ milligram doses and placed conveniently on package labels. While many shops are opening around the city, the most notable for me are the Good Life Collective on Monroe Avenue in the city, Rise in Henrietta, and FlynnStoned, a new Syracuse-based dispensary that recently opened up its doors on State Street in Downtown Rochester. This is not a paid advertisement, just a plug to some high-quality shops in Roc that I’ve been fortunate enough to learn about.
Stiiizy display case at Flynnstoned Dispensary on State Street in Downtown Rochester, NY
One final note, however you choose to celebrate 420 across the Flower City, it is worth mentioning that following State policy when consuming should be held to a high standard to keep us all in the community safe. For decades, marijuana has maintained a form of stigmatization, and is still illegal in many states across the U.S. However, what many advocates and consumers know is that at the end of the day, the benefits we receive from THC outweigh any negative effects from recreational and medicinal use.
I will leave you with this: Happy 420 to the Flower City!
