KENMORE, N.Y. (WIVB) – Former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra is behind a new cannabis dispensary in Kenmore with a drive-thru.
Giambra is one of the co-owners of Honey Kenmore on Delaware Street in the village. Honey is one of 20 state-licensed cannabis dispensaries in Western New York. Other locations are on Indian reservations and are not regulated by the state.
On Friday, Honey cut the ribbon on a brand new drive-thru that will give customers easy access to a variety of marijuana products, although pre-ordering is required online.
Honey is open seven days a week and is housed in a former bank, so they have a safe for storage. Giambra said the location will cater to seniors and people with disabilities.
“Many of the customers who come to this store are not physically able to come into the store,” Giambra said. “This will be very convenient for them and many other customers.”
Just two days ago, a vape shop less than a mile away on Delaware Avenue was raided by police and the state Marijuana Control Bureau. Witnesses said they saw police remove a large package containing potential evidence from the Wicked Grass Smoke Shop, which remains closed.
Giambra, who was treated for throat cancer several years ago, said she learned about marijuana while recovering.
“Cannabis is a very important plant,” Giambra said. “Many years ago I became aware of the existence of this plant and the properties it has in terms of healing. Many years ago, having been a cancer patient myself, I began to understand the benefits of this plant more and more. It helped me.”
The state is celebrating the opening of the state's 200th adult-use cannabis retail store near Albany. Since recreational marijuana became legal several years ago, dispensaries in the state have sold more than $650 million in product.
As more dispensaries open, the state continues to report tens of millions of dollars worth of illegal products being seized from stores across New York.
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