Brooklyn's First Full-Time Legal Dispensary Opens In Gravesend

GRAVESEND, NY — Brooklyn's first recreational cannabis dispensary is here... well, legally at least.

The borough's first permanent legal recreational dispensary opened in Gravesend Tuesday afternoon — a soon-to-be hot spot "whether you are a seasoned cannabis enthusiast or new to the world of cannabis," said the store's owners on its website.

Grow Together, which sits on Coney Island Avenue between Avenue T and Avenue U, marks the 36th recreational dispensary to open in New York City, and it opened just a couple of days after new Soho dispensary Dagmar.

And while Grow Together is the first legal spot to stay put in Brooklyn, it's not exactly the borough's first taste of licensed bud. A pop-up of Queens' first legal recreational dispensary, Good Grades, opened in Flatbush in October and schooled locals on all things weed, music, art and culture.

But Grow Together will stick around, helmed by Christopher Ledlum and Steven Sapoznik, an "experienced local entrepreneur and justice-involved individual," according to the state's Office of Cannabis Management.

The weed-haven's aspirations go far beyond just getting locals high.

"At Grow Together, we are more than just a dispensary – we are a community hub dedicated to promoting wellness, education, and empowerment," its owners said on the store's website.

"We strongly believe in the power of education and strive to empower our community with accurate information about cannabis, its benefits, and responsible usage."

As one door opens in Brooklyn, another closes. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the forced closure of an illegal shop in Bay Ridge, Big Chief Smoke Shop.

The shop ignored multiple warnings to stop operating without a license, according to state authorities.

"With Brooklyn's first legal cannabis retailers opening this month and illegal shops continuing to close, we are turning the corner towards building a stronger, safer cannabis industry," Hochul said.