Leafy Peaks: A Dispensary Rooted in Community and Healing

Daniel Brown recognized the significant benefits of cannabis, particularly for individuals suffering from PTSD. When recreational cannabis was legalised in New York State, he saw it as an opportunity to help the community of Waterford, New York., where his family had lived for generations. Daniel’s dedication to the community remains his primary motivation, and he strives to improve daily to meet the needs of Waterford residents. 

Growing up, Daniel’s father used cannabis to help manage his stress. “My dad was a recreational cannabis grower when I was growing up so I knew about it,” he explained. Daniel’s father was a Vietnam veteran, and was first introduced to cannabis during his deployment in Vietnam. When he returned to the United States, he continued to use cannabis to cope with his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “My dad was a huge advocate for cannabis,” shared Daniel. While Daniel was in high school, he would sell cannabis to his friends and others in the area before it was legalized in New York, which resulted in him serving some time in jail for marijuana related charges. In the following years, Daniel attended barber school and eventually opened his own barbershop in Troy, New York, called Strive for Greatness. 

In 2021,New York State legalized recreational cannabis and announced the requirements for the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license. The CAURD licenses were the first issued and were granted to individuals who had been incarcerated for selling cannabis before its legalization. The aim was to rectify past injustices and provide these individuals with the opportunity to establish themselves within the industry. “They wanted to give the little guys the opportunity to get into the market before they let the big guys out,” shared Daniel. “I never expected the state to come out with this program. I was pretty surprised by it,” he continued. There are several requirements that applicants must meet to obtain a CAURD license, one of which is that they must have operated a social enterprise that generated a profit for at least two years. As a business owner, Daniel realized that he was eligible to apply for this license. “I’ve had my own business for the past five years so when the state offered these licenses out I just knew it was something I had to do,” he shared. His motivation for opening the dispensary stems from his first hand experience witnessing how much cannabis helped his father, who passed away the previous year in 2020. “If my dad was around it would’ve been something he would have loved to see happen,” explained Daniel, “I’ve seen how it helps a lot of people.”

Although he met all the requirements and had experience running a business, opening the dispensary was a long and challenging journey. After applying for the license, it took 10 months before he actually received it, and there was no communication from the state during that time regarding its progress. Additionally, when he finally received the license, a lawsuit was filed against New York State, resulting in a six-month injunction on the opening of dispensaries. Once again, there was very little communication during this period, leaving everyone uncertain about the outcome. Daniel had already invested a lot of time and money into the dispensary but was now unsure if he would even be able to open. “It was like rolling the dice,” he said. Additionally, some people were concerned about the potential impact that the dispensary would have on the community. They thought it would attract a rowdy crowd and increase traffic. However, Daniel was able to clarify that a dispensary operates like any other business and that many of the prejudices surrounding cannabis are false. Despite these challenges, Daniel was able to open the doors to Leafy Peaks in March, 2024.

While still new, Daniel is eager for Leafy Peaks to become well-established within the Waterford community. “We’re a small mom-and-pop dispensary with roots to the community,” he explained. “We’re always just looking for more ways to get involved with the community.” Currently, he is even working on relocating his barbershop right next door to the dispensary. Having witnessed how cannabis can help so many people, he is excited to provide Waterford residents with a safe and welcoming dispensary that meets their needs. Employing lifelong friends, and even having his wife work as a manager, Daniel knows that everyone there shares the same values and beliefs regarding the importance of giving back to the community. Overall, he wants people to feel welcomed and respected when they walk through the doors of Leafy Peaks. 

For more information about Leafy Peaks, visit their website: leafypeaks.com.