Syracuse’s first legal marijuana shop to open in June, at least two others awarded licenses

Update: Five more CNY marijuana licenses awarded.

Syracuse, N.Y. — Are you ready to get Flynnstoned?

The Armory Square business by that name is one of at least three in the Syracuse area officially awarded legal marijuana retail licenses by the state today. Unlike the others, and unlike two Central New York licenses awarded earlier, this one is ready to open very soon.

It would likely be the first legal recreational marijuana shop, or dispensary, in Central New York, and possibly the largest operating anywhere in the state.

Flynnstoned plans to open at 219 Walton St. in Armory Square on June 9, owner Mike Flynn said. The shop will offer smokeable flower, vapes, edible gummies, tinctures and more. It plans to add a “consumption lounge” for on-premises use later in the year.

Two of the other Central New York businesses who received marijuana retail licenses today from the state Office of Cannabis Management are: The Higher Calling, a Syracuse-based partnership owned by Mike Golden, Anthony “Byron” Cage and Joe Sweet; and a business owned by T.J. Lewis, who currently operates TJ’s Hydroponics on Long Branch Road in in Liverpool.

In all, the OCM Cannabis Control Board today approved eight new licenses in Central New York. See other new licensees.

The new licensees join two others from Central New York announced earlier this year. One went to an affiliate of the non-profit senior care health agency Loretto. The other went to Joseph Simons, a Boston-area lawyer who grew up in Oneonta.

None of those businesses have yet identified specific locations or estimated opening dates for their shops.

The new licenses are among 50 issued statewide today by the state cannabis office. That brings the total number of awarded licenses to 215, but only ten of the shops have actually opened. No state-licensed shops are open in Central New York — the closest now are in Ithaca and Binghamton.

Critics of the state’s legal marijuana program continue to argue the roll out of businesses has been too slow, hampered by bureaucratic and legal issues.

Mike Flynn has been vocal in the past about his impatience with the pace of the state’s licensing program.

Flynn, who also owns the Geddes-based company The Roofing Guys, started his project for an Armory Square shop almost immediately after the state legalized adult-use recreational marijuana in 2021.

He’s poured $3 million into the three-story, 13,000-square-foot building on Walton Street that once housed an Urban Outfitters store. He’s outfitted the first two floors for retail sales, and the third floor has a space for the lounge.

“As far as I know, it’s going to be the biggest one in the state and the biggest one this side of the Mississippi,” he said.

Although the state is offering money and other assistance to start-up marijuana businesses (through an agency called the Dormitory Authority of State of New York), Flynn has chosen not to pursue that. That choice has allowed him to proceed much faster. He still needs state sign-off on the location, which he expects to get in the next few weeks.

“It’s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” Flynn said of getting his license. “I can’t wait to be part of this, bringing this business to Syracuse.”

Flynn plans to hold a block party to celebrate the opening on June 9. He’s arranging with the city to close the 200 block for the event. He plans to be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

All of the state retail licenses awarded so far have been issued through the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program, a key in what the state calls its social equity goal in starting up the legal marijuana businesses.

For now, the CAURD program limits licensees to individuals, or close relatives of individuals, who have been convicted of marijuana offenses in the past and also have demonstrated successful business experience. Other licenses are going to non-profit agencies that serve those impacted by past pot convictions.

Flynn qualifies for the program because he had some minor drug convictions when he was a teen-ager and he has a proven track record running a business.

Here’s a look at the other two new licensee from Central New York:

The Higher Calling is a Syracuse business that has been selling T-shirts, hats and other cannabis-themed apparel for several years. Original partners Mike Golden and Anthony Byron Cage have now been joined by Joe Sweet, who has operated a business called Utica Hemp Co.

Their new business will likely combine a retail shop and consumption lounge, said Golden, who helped lobby for the ability of licensees to operate both (the original state rules kept those separate.)

Golden and Cage initially had their eye on locations in downtown Syracuse, but Golden said they have now expanded that to consider spaces in the city or close-in suburbs.

The Higher Calling is likely to seek the assistance of the state, through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, in setting the business up.

“We have money to invest, but we’re probably going to need more capital,” he said. “But we’re excited to to get started after all this time.”

TJ Lewis is hoping to open his marijuana retail shop near Liverpool, perhaps in the town of Clay. He does not yet have a specific location or timetable, and is not sure he will make use of the state assistance through DASNY.

For 10 years, he has operated his hydroponics shop, which offers indoor and outdoor growing supplies and accessories, at 4205 Long Branch Road. That will not be the location of the marijuana business.

His history with marijuana legal issues includes a federal conviction for illegally growing weed.

In an interview last year with New York Cannabis Insider, Lewis offered this description of his business plan:

“My business will differentiate itself from competitors because I have a reputation in this industry already and people trust my expertise,” he said. “This opportunity is immensely important to me because I changed my life around and made something worthy to be proud of in an industry that has been criminalized. This is my legacy and I am happy to be a front-runner for (a state license).”

More marijuana news in CNY:

Hanging out? Or breaking bad? Syracuse club tests New York’s marijuana laws

Central NY’s first licensed marijuana seller is a Boston lawyer busted for pot as a kid in Oneonta

Syracuse’s biggest nursing home operator wins Central NY’s first legal weed license

More coverage of cannabis in Central New York

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.