New cannabis dispensary springs up in Mount Vernon: 'We hope to elevate'

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Hans Fleuriot says it’s about time that Westchester County residents can purchase marijuana legally.

He was among the first to see it happen.

“For those that were in the dark or in the shade, they can come out to the light and be a part of the community and not feel shunned,” said Fleuriot.

The Elevate Cannabis Dispensary in Mount Vernon is the county’s first marijuana dispensary. The latest dispensary joined the more than 60 similar shops that have sprung up across New York since the state legalized marijuana. City leaders touted the grand opening and as a win-win for residents citing the potential for job creation and additional tax revenue that could go toward city programs.

“We are not celebrating the cutting of a ribbon," said the Mayor of Mount Vernon, Shawyn Patterson-Howard. "We are talking about really unlocking opportunity. Understanding that the cannabis industry is an industry that will create jobs. It is a retail industry and Mount Vernon is excited to be at the forefront.”

Patterson-Howard stressed that opening this and future dispensaries does not promote the use of marijuana, but acknowledges that many residents already consume it and deserve safe and legal spaces to purchase it. She is vowing to enforce regulations and crack down on illicit dispensaries.

Some say that officials should also make sure that communities of color, which were penalized in larger numbers before legalization, reap the economic benefits.

“A lot of us were incarcerated for things that now we shouldn’t have been and targeted. It’s time for us to get our just due,” said a customer.

“Thank you everyone who supported it believed in it and we hope to elevate,” said owner John Ruggerio.

Elevate’s owner kept his welcoming speech short but the list of cannabis options at his shop is long.

Well-trained staff members are on hand to answer customer questions. Despite the elaborate setup and welcoming nature, some customers think the stigma surrounding weed lingers and must be addressed.

“I think that if people didn’t put such a stigma on it from the beginning because it should’ve always been legal. Then no one should have to feel away,” said a customer.