What makes a great restaurant experience? The food, obviously. Service is also paramount. And the space itself can’t be overlooked.

Astoria, Queens, is full of top-notch eateries, from Greek to Vietnamese to Venezuelan. Earlier this year, they added cannabis to the menu with the opening of a handful of legal dispensaries. One of the best is Cannavita Dispensary, located at 30-30 Steinway Street. 

Cannavita general manager Allie Carney and owner Marko Popovic met years ago while working in New York City’s restaurant industry. They learned the ins and outs of how to provide guests with an unforgettable dining experience. Now, they have a fleet of native Queens budtenders working with them to apply the same hospitality principals to shopping for cannabis.

Cannavita is located on a street full of restaurants and stores. For commuters and munchers on the go, they provide quick work during a busy day. Cannavita’s menu offers hundreds of choices for consumers across flower and prerolls, edibles, vaporizers, and concentrates, with brands like Electraleaf, Chef For Higher, KIVA, Aeterna, and Blotter on deck. Their team largely hails from Queens as well, giving a local texture to patrons seeking recommendations.

“Marko and I have known each other for so many years; we come from restaurants, so now to finally have something [where] we can take that customer service and put it into reality—none of this is lost on us.”

Allie Carney, manager at Cannavita

Popovic received his CAURD license along with a silent partner who had a previous cannabis charge. Both he and Carney emphasize that equity and social justice are a huge part of Cananvita’s model. Cannavita collaborates with justice-focused organizations like the Last Prisoner Project and hosts regular social events to elevate locals’ experiences with cannabis.

Beyond Cannavita, Carney and Popovic encourage locals and visitors to indulge in the full Astoria experience when they visit. There’s an endless list of restaurants, riverside parks, and the museums (we love Museum of the Moving Image, an interactive museum that celebrates cinema, television and visual media) nearby.

As Cannavita’s one-year anniversary approaches in spring 2025, Carney says that the dispensary’s ethos is to be the best in the business, and to foster a sense of “peace and community and comfort,” for everyone who walks in the door.

Cannavita’s team delivers on that mission with a rich events schedule including yoga seshes in the morning and art gallery parties at night. Follow Cannavita on Leafly for updates on deals, events, and new product drops. And next time you’re in Astoria, stop by the posh storefront, which looks and feels like a luxurious tropical getaway from the concrete jungle.

What are you smoking, New York? Keep up with New York’s favorite strains, dispensaries, and events on Leafly‘s New York homepage.

Good news, Leafly Nation. Every day brings us closer to more stores in more places serving more tasty dank buds and cool vapes than ever before. There’s so many popping up in legalization states young and old that we’re starting to list them in a “Grand Openings” post at the beginning of the month. Know of a grand opening? Email us at Leafly. Let’s dig in.

Arizona

Story Cannabis Company—Bullhead City, AZ. Opened Aug. 1. Conveniently located off the 95 and Bullhead Pkwy. Staffed by ‘passionate cannabis experts.’ Daily deals on premium brands. 3550 North Ln. #110, Bullhead City, AZ 86422. [Shop on Leafly]

California

The Artist Tree—Hawthorne, CA. Opened Aug. 20. ‘Less than four miles from LAX.’ ‘Hawthorne’s only smoking lounge’ adorned with décor from local artists, including an original exterior mural. ‘Seamless open floor plan.’ 4756 W. Imperial Hwy, Hawthorne, CA 90304.

Muha Meds—Los Angeles, CA. Opened July 6. ‘Immersive retail experience’ complete with ‘dynamic murals’ highlighting Los Angeles culture and ‘holographic features’ alongside ‘fun and innovative promotions, incentive programs and a menu of delights that continues to evolve.’ 2131 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Private Reserve—Hollywood, CA. Opened June 21. ‘West Hollywood’s newest and most intimate cannabis lounge.’ Offering an ‘unparalleled hospitality experience’ where guests can enjoy ‘individual servings of top tier strains usually only available for retail purchase at a high price point.’ Reservations required. 8448 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

Solful—Healdsburg, CA. Opens Oct. 11. ‘The very first dispensary to open and operate in Healdsburg.’ ‘Iconic ‘flower wall,’ featuring 40 cannabis varieties from local farms. 465 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Stiiizy—Encinitas, CA. Opened Aug. 10. Marking Stiiizy’s 35^th retail shop to open in California, the bestselling brand’s new flagship location in Encinitas is now open seven days a week and stocked with all the products and gear you’ve come to know and love. 1030 N Coast Hwy 10, Encinitas, CA 92024. [Shop on Leafly]

Massachusetts

City Farm by Silver Therapeutics—Roslindale, MA. Opened Sept. 6. ‘Beautiful facility’ with ‘top shelf products’ and ‘educated budtenders eager to serve with a smile.’ Conveniently located ‘just eight miles from the heart of Boston.’ 721 American Legion Hwy, Roslindale, MA 02131. [Shop on Leafly]

Mississippi

Southern Sky Wellness—Vicksburg, MS. Opened Sept. 2. ‘Modern, welcoming environment’ with educational menus and ‘state-of-the-art facilities’ featuring ‘an expanded selection of premium products.’ 2080 S. Frontage Rd, Suite 106, Vicksburg, MS 39180. [Shop on Leafly]

Southern Sky Wellness—Bay St. Louis, MS. Opened Sept. 6. ‘Modern, welcoming environment’ with educational menus and ‘state-of-the-art facilities’ featuring ‘an expanded selection of premium products.’ 10209 Highway 603, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520.

Missouri

Greenlight—Rock Port, MO. Opened July 23. ‘Strategically located thirty minutes from Nebraska City and one hour from Lincoln and Omaha.’ Features ‘over 300 branded cannabis products’ and a convenient drive-thru option. 105 Speedy’s Dr, Rock Port, MO 64482. [Shop on Leafly]

New York

Silver Therapeutics—Saratoga Springs, NY. Opened July 26. Partnership with woman-owned Spa City Cannabis, LLC and Saratoga Springs’ first cannabis dispensary. ‘Close to the highway with over 25 parking spots.’  75 Weibel Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. [Shop on Leafly]

Verona Collective at Verona Crossroads—Verona, NY. Opened Aug. 8. New flagship location for the Oneida Indian Nation’s seed-to-sale cannabis enterprise with ‘expansive inventory of more than 160 high-quality products across four brands.’ 5528 NY-31 Verona, NY 13478.

Ohio

On August 6, 2024, the state of Ohio officially went legal with adult-use sales. While there aren’t any grand openings to list, here is a list of the dispensaries that now offer recreational sales in Ohio.

Sunnyside Recreational & Medical—Cincinnati, OH. 5149 Kennedy Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45213. [Shop on Leafly]

Sunnyside Recreational & Medical—Marion, OH. 326 James Way, Marion, OH 43302. [Shop on Leafly]

Sunnyside Recreational & Medical—Newark, OH. 1546 W Church St, Newark, OH 43055. [Shop on Leafly]

Sunnyside Recreational & Medical— Chillicothe, OH. 1641 N Bridge St, Chillicothe, OH 45601. [Shop on Leafly]

Sunnyside Recreational & Medical— Wintersville, OH. 180 Main St, Wintersville, OH 43952. [Shop on Leafly]

Verilife (Non-Medical)—Hillsboro, OH. 1088 N High St, Hillsboro, OH 45133. [Shop on Leafly]

Verilife (Non-Medical)—Wapakoneta, OH. 502 Dixie Hwy, Wapakoneta, OH 45895. [Shop on Leafly]

Verilife (Non-Medical)—Cincinnati, OH. 5431 Ridge Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45213. [Shop on Leafly]

Nirvana (Med/Non-Med)—Elyria, OH. 914 Cleveland St, Elyria, OH 44035. [Shop on Leafly]

The Citizen By Klutch(Med/Non-Med)—Lorain, OH. 5152 Grove Ave, Lorain, OH 44055. [Shop on Leafly]

The Citizen By Klutch(Med/Non-Med)—Canton, OH. 401 Cherry Ave NE, Canton, OH 44702. [Shop on Leafly]

Washington, D.C.

Miel Wellness—Washington, D.C. Opened Sept. 14. ‘Curated selection, where convenience meets luxury.’ Staffed by a ‘passionate team dedicated to elevating your understanding of cannabis culture’ by being ‘at the forefront of the latest trends and insights.’ 727 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003. [Shop on Leafly]

International

S.W.E.D.—Amsterdam, NL. Opened Aug. 1. Second ‘Smoke Weed Every Day’ location from rap superstar Snoop Dogg. Hybrid coffee shop and dispensary with a ‘unique blend of high-quality products, exclusive strains, artisanal edibles, and top-tier cannabis accessories, all handpicked by Snoop.’ Marnixstraat 333, 1016 TC Amsterdam.

The cannabis industry is on edge as it waits to see how the federal government acts.  On one side is the slow moving Biden/Harris administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) slow walking rescheduling. The DEA is having to wade through overwhelming positive support for fellow agencies and the general public. On the other side, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has allowed groups from his party to protest and try to stop the process and issuing statements on the dangers of marijuana. Coupled with a mess in California and a significant drop in investment in the industry as everyone waits the outcome, things are tough. But there are positive signs for NY legal marijuana.

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New York was one track to be the biggest single market perhaps in the word in the when they approved recreational marijuana. But a last minute major overhaul of the process a few weeks before it rolled out ended in a massive chaos. January 2023 launch the first legal store, but at year end there were roughly 25 legal dispensaries and ultimately 2,800 illicit ones in the Empire State. While consumers may or may not have known or cared about the legality of where they shopped, they should. The products in the stores are unregulated, which is a strong health issue as ingredients and dosage could vary significantly.

Joe Hodas, President of Wana shared “Wana’s entry in the New York market has been a move that’s been in the works for quite some time. We’ve already established a strong presence in over 20 stores, including The Travel Agency and Housing Works. Orders are rolling in and more locations will be coming online soon. While our initial focus is on the New York City area, we’re working on expansion into upstate as well. We believe New York will be one of the most important states on the map for us and we are excited to get more products into the hands of New Yorkers and all those who visit from around the world.”

When asked about why enter the NY market now, Hodas responded.

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“The Travel Agency is thrilled to partner with Wana in this vibrant New York cannabis market, that we’ve helped grow since its launch. Wana is also one of this industry’s pioneers, building their business through consistent products and the exploration of new formats and flavors. We look forward to collaborating with Wana in providing New Yorkers with safe, high-quality cannabis experience.” stated Paul Yau, The Travel Agency, Co-Founder and CEO. One of the larger, legal dispensary brand in NYC.