New Owner Revamps CNY Cannabis Business with License and Fresh Start

A Central New York cannabis business has undergone a significant transformation, now operating under a new name, ownership, and product line, while also securing its first license. The establishment, previously known as The Herbal Center, has rebranded to become The Dispensary by the BuddBoyz. New owner Rodney Haymes completed the acquisition from his cousin, John Vanfossen, and opened the new location at 918 N. Salina St. in Syracuse this week.

The Herbal Center faced numerous allegations of illegal marijuana sales from both state and local authorities during its operation. Under Vanfossen’s management, the business referred to itself as a “private club” and expanded to three locations in Syracuse, Liverpool, and Central Square. All of these sites were cited for selling marijuana without a state license. In 2023, the Office of Cannabis Management ordered the closures of the Liverpool and Central Square locations following coordinated investigations with local police. The Syracuse site was also cited by the city codes office for illegal sales and faced a court ruling in July that barred cannabis sales at that location.

The Dispensary is now licensed to sell cannabinoid hemp products, which contain lower levels of the psychoactive component THC compared to traditional marijuana. Haymes stated that the store will offer variations of hemp-derived cannabis, including THCA and THCP. He explained that THCA can achieve marijuana-level THC potency when burned, making it a viable alternative for consumers.

SYR Cannabis products derived from hemp have been legal for sale in New York since 2018, while recreational marijuana sales and possession became legal in 2021. The state issues different licenses for various cannabis products, and the Syracuse Dispensary is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Haymes has plans to relocate another business from the former Herbal Center location on Oswego Street in Liverpool to a new space at 642 Old Liverpool Road, which was previously home to a VeraLife medical cannabis dispensary. He anticipates that this location will be operational within a month. The Central Square site at 3078 East Ave. is still “under seal” from the state and will take longer to reopen.

In addition to these ventures, Haymes is working towards launching a licensed recreational marijuana dispensary, The Dank Bank by the BuddBoyz, in DeWitt. This new store will occupy a former Chase Bank branch at 6004 Court Street Road, complete with its original vault and teller windows. Haymes aims to open this dispensary by January 1, 2024.

Haymes has been candid about his past, acknowledging his history as a street dealer and time spent in jail. His journey into legal cannabis began when New York legalized marijuana in April 2021. He was part of the initial group of entrepreneurs who received preliminary license approval under the Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program, aimed at promoting social equity within the legal cannabis industry.

Reflecting on his motivations, Haymes expressed, “So now we’re here, doing things the right way, and selling a good product. That’s what this is all about.”

The Dispensary by the BuddBoyz now represents a fresh start for Haymes and a shift towards compliance in the rapidly evolving cannabis market in New York.