Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks At Grand Opening Of Matawana Dispensary

February 28, 2024

Dasheeda Dawson, Director, Cannabis NYC: Good morning everyone. My name is Dasheeda Dawson and I'm the founding director of Cannabis NYC, launched in 22 by Mayor Eric Adams. Cannabis NYC is located within the New York City Department of Small Business Services and is a developing inter‑agency hub of city‑wide resources and services for all New Yorkers interested in the legal industry.

We're strategically and intentionally working with city leaders across many agencies including the Mayor's Office of Equity, the New York City Sheriff's Office, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Administration for Children's Health and New York City Housing Authority to ensure our city's industry development is equitable, sustainable, thriving and safe.

Today we make history again as we celebrate the opening of the first Black woman‑owned legal dispensary in Brooklyn, marijuana dispensary.

Let's go! And of course, on the last day of Black History Month and the almost the first day of Women's History Month, this is ideal.

Now after the passage of the MRTA, it was Mayor Adams' vision that established Cannabis NYC to lead the on‑the‑ground outreach, public education, business services, application support, workforce training, policy development and more for the city's developing industry.

In less than two years, we are delivering on the Adams administration's vision and mission to become the number one global hub for cannabis industry excellence in equity and education across business, science and culture.

Please join me in welcoming our first speaker, our Mayor Eric Adams. Yes.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you so much. Really excited Brownsville coming to Park Slope, you know, and you know, just hearing and seeing the possibilities that we have here. And Dasheeda, you really had the vision. It was such a great decision on bringing you on board to really look at the market.

She brought the business mindset as well as understanding the most important part of this, and that's the equity. We knew for far too long that far too many people were unfairly treated by our laws around cannabis. And the fighting the vision from our state lawmakers or to make sure that we produce a manner in which we could have a vision like this to see a shop open were not only, as you stated, the intersectionality of Black History Month but Women History Month.

And to have a shop open here on Fifth Avenue, on Fifth Avenue is really, you're like the modern day George Jefferson, moving on up.

And this just brings a level of excitement to what we envisioned and what was envisioned by the lawmakers. I remember the days of being a police officer, both our current sheriff and I, how we fought against some of the illegal arrests of young people who had small quantities of marijuana, and they were treated in an unjust and unfair manner. And so here as we stand today to be part of this great announcement, it says a lot. It says how far we have come and how far we have to go.

This dispensary open as a signature to what we want to accomplish and what we want to do throughout the city. And we're happy to be here also with Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, who's introducing legislation— as well as others in Albany—  to make sure that we do not undermine what we attempted to accomplish.

But not being heavy‑handed, but to make sure that these legal dispensaries are able to thrive and grow and produce a qualitative product that we want. This is part of our overall vision when we came into office. It was about public safety, revitalizing the economy, and making our city more livable for a hard working, working class New Yorkers.

And today, this is another way we're delivering on that vision, and building a legal equitable cannabis industry is part of that vision. We are lighting up our economy with the nation's most equitable cannabis industry. Others attempted, and they didn't get it right. We want to make sure we got it, we're getting it right.

And so we're making history, opening the first legal dispensary in Brooklyn owned by a Black woman.

Matawana Dispensary is an example of how you build an equitable cannabis industry that writes the wrongs of the past. And Leeann Mata, the dispensary's owner, is a former Department of Education teacher and Brooklyn native, and she and her brothers have been justice impact by the previous war on drugs. So, this is not only professional, it's personal for her, as you know, it's important to get it right.

And that was an all too common story, as I stated, for Black and Brown young people throughout this city, and this dispensary is righting that wrong. And we really want to thank her for her visionary approach. Even when you walk through the front door, you see the logo on the front, it just really shows that you are in a comfortable setting where you can enjoy legal cannabis.

And we know as the future moves on, this is going to become the joint where everybody hangs out at.

As we close out Black History Month, New York City's taking steps to fix the mistakes of the past by supporting equitable growth in the legal cannabis industry. That is what today is about, and making sure that New Yorkers who were harmed by the mistakes of the past are first in line for the economic opportunity that legal cannabis will bring to our city.

Make no mistake, the cannabis industry is a budding economic opportunity for the city. We have supported the opening of 26 legal cannabis shops in the five boroughs; and every day. We are working to create a thriving, equitable industry. We must really understand, and our focus is to acknowledge that to support the legal market, we have to address the illegal market.

And you're seeing it throughout the city. Every community throughout the state, actually, is talking about the illegal market that can undermine their legal operators. Illegal operators threaten the success of legal shops and put the safety of our community at risk.

And these shops are selling illegal counterfeit products. Many of them are unsafe, and they targeted our young children. Legal cannabis remains the right choice for every citizen that wants to purchase legal cannabis, and we want to continue the development of the industry and give the support that is needed.

And that's what Dasheeda has really done, a magnificent job as she built out that infrastructure. New Yorkers are tied and fed up of seeing illegal shops, and we need to take action. That's why I'm looking forward to working with all our partners in Albany: give us the local authority. Allow us the opportunity to close down the illegal shops.

We have created the Interagency Sheriff's Joint Compliance Task Force to conduct enforcement actions against unlicensed establishments, something that Sheriff Miranda has been amazing at doing. And since the start of this administration, we have closed 160 illegal businesses, conducted over 46,000 inspections, collected over $18 million in fines and issued 17,000 summonses.

But we can't do it alone, we need our partners. And we want to thank Governor Hochul and partners like Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and others, and the one of the leaders up in the assembly Crystal Peoples‑Stokes, assemblywoman. All of us together can get the product that we're looking for by making sure we have the safety that we need.

So, congratulations. Good luck to you. I wish you great fortune.

Thank you, Mayor Adams, for your unwavering commitment to making New York City a global leader for the developing legal cannabis industry. We know that does not include the recent proliferation of illegal storefronts, marketing and selling cannabis products, among others things, that are not representative of what the advocates fought for when we held the line in support of the MRTA.

We know demonstrating global leadership does include protecting community safety, public health and equity, such as ensuring legacy to legal entrepreneurs like Leeann Mata, who are pioneering the development of this market, have a chance to establish successful and thriving legitimate businesses.

Grounded in equity and education, Cannabis NYC has spent the last 18 months focused on creating the sustainable framework to facilitate equity‑centered entrepreneurship, economic development and just enforcement. To put it bluntly, for too long the criminalization of marijuana has wrought devastation among communities across all five boroughs disproportionately impacting marginalized groups and perpetuating cycles of injustice.

We cannot afford to backtrack on the progress, however, that we have made. But rather, we must move forward, amplifying the stories and supporting the efforts of New Yorkers who have hustled to overcome injustice to pioneer this developing industry.

With that in mind, next we will hear from my fellow East New York native— Whoop‑whoop!— and owner of Matawana Dispensary, Leeann Matta.

Leeann Matta, Owner, Matawana Dispensary: Hello everyone. I would like to thank everyone that came. I would like to start by thanking HousingWorks. They made, they rolled out the red carpet to make sure this day happened, and I'm forever grateful.

I'm an East New York native. My mother was one of the first people to tell me that I can accomplish anything. What she told me was, yes, we are a product of East New York, but we are not a product of our environment. She said to me that if you put in hard work, give back to your community, your community will give back to you. And today, my community is giving back to me.

I would like to thank Mayor Adams. Without him and his persistent to make sure that people from Brownsville and East New York get in positions where we can open the doors for others that everyone can see that it's possible.

I would also like to thank my siblings; without them, without their support, I wouldn't be here right now. When they came out with the drug law, my father was assaulted and arrested. My brothers, I have five brothers and three of them have weed charges because of stop and frisk.

We were just college students with anxiety and wanted a way out, we also wanted a way to not have to take medication but use natural herbs. Matawana has allowed me to open the doors and hire 21 U.S. youth, young Black people, people of all races, but we also [landed] support to advocate for people of all colors and give them the opportunity to make a decent wage and also be able to take care of their family.

This moment represents a moment of tranquility. This moment represents a moment of growth. This moment represents a moment that we all can build generational wealth. And as what Jay‑Z said, keep showing up. It's never gonna be easy, but you gotta keep showing up. Put in the work, put in the effort, and you also have to make sure you think the people that made, paved the way.

And I want to thank everyone. everyone in this room that's here, I also want to thank you for your hard work and making sure that the legal shops are not a problem for us in this area. And I am truly humbled and thankful for this experience. Thank you, everyone, for coming out.

Yes, also, Mayor Adams, I have a gift for you.

The bag says The People's Mayor.

I know you like to go to the gym, so I figured you could take it to the gym. The cannabis mayor, Eric Adams.

Dawson: Thank you, Leeann, and congratulations again on your historic opening. Yes, you want another round of applause for this opening.

This story embodies so much of the work that we've been doing in New York and underscores what's been missing from so many mature legal, medical and adult use markets across the nation. The good news is Cannabis NYC remains here for you, Leeann, and all New Yorkers. and we're just lifting off.

We continue to expand our global hub, most recently partnering with the SBS Division of Business Services to power new cannabis account managers at our business solution centers across all five boroughs. We've already had more than 300 registrants for FastTrack for cannabis entrepreneurs, a free 10‑week digital course taught by top global and local cannabis business leaders, educators, and advocates.

In partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, we developed the Cannabis NYC Loan Fund and looking forward to opening applications and access this year to affordable financing for social and economic equity licensees.

We're working with the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice to pilot the Cannabis Reentry Employment Assistance and Training Experience— or, CREATE— where we're creating a workforce development pipeline for reentering citizens in an industry expected to add over 60,000 new jobs within the next few years.

Launched in February 2023, our ongoing liftoff Cannabis NYC five borough tour is the city's first cannabis public education and outreach effort, listening and learning, reaching and teaching thousands of New Yorkers and counting.

Now the tour continues in 2024 with major stops, including our Poison Prevention Week in March, the second annual New York City Cannabis Empowerment Week in April, the 51st New York City Cannabis Parade in May, and partnership with CUNY, MEGA, EVERS at the third annual Cannabis Education Music Festival in June, and NYCHA Family Days all summer long. You can just call me Beyonce, by the way, on this one. We're on tour.

And the Beehive must be our growing partnership with our Cannabis NYC Ambassadors and the five borough coalition. Community centered, business supported and government protected, this unprecedented democratized coalition is the engine that fuels our office getting stuff done as we build programs from scratch, extend the reach of established city services and resources and initiatives and develop citywide policies that will intentionally and strategically drive an equitable, accessible and safe industry prioritizing communities disproportionately harmed by prohibition.

Now, before we open to on topic Q&A, I wanted to also acknowledge MWBE certified and SBS Services alum, TCC Media, and HousingWorks Cannabis Company for your work supporting Leeann and the Matawana team down the stretch to make today's grand opening a success.

Specifically, today also marks the historic launch of HousingWorks Card Community Initiative, an incubator program that helps other licensees to access capital, operational infrastructure and support securing real estate.

Cannabis NYC applauds your effort as it represents a significant change and leap forward in the private sector leadership industry for embodying the spirit of equity, access and collaboration that we've envisioned for this New York City market

Thank you for your work, and congratulations again for making history. Another round of applause to celebrate this historic opening. We are now moving on to our Q&A.

Mayor Adams: And before we get to Q&A, I just really want to thank our assemblywoman. Assemblywoman, why don't you say a few words on your pursuit as we try to legalize the industry?

Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar: Well, good morning. First of all, congratulations, Ms. Matta, on your accomplishment to be the first Black‑owned woman business of its kind here. You really make us all so proud.

You mentioned your brothers being arrested on low‑level marijuana charges, and now for you to open this business and give a chance for our communities to heal is really what this is all about. So, thank you again.

And to be here also with our mayor who really cares about all the people of this city like no mayor has ever cared before, all working class people, all Black women, all immigrant communities. It's just an honor to always stand with you, Mayor Adams.

And yes, in Albany, I am fighting to close down all the illegal marijuana shops... so that legal businesses like this worthy one can thrive. And a lot has been said about Beyonce and Jay‑Z this morning, but Jay‑Z also famously said I got 99 problems...

And I'm gonna add, but an illegal marijuana shop is not one.

So, I've introduced the Smokeout Act in Albany, and I am confident that very soon we're going to smoke them all out and pave the way for worthy businesses like this one. Thank you so much.

Mayor Adams: We're going to take a few questions.

Moderator: Let's go, Kevin.

Question: Kevin Sheehan, New York Post. Good morning, Mr. Mayor.

Mayor Adams: How are you?

Question: Great. I know you're not looking down on me.

So, the question is, you know all about the crime that comes around, in the last couple of years has been coming around or centered around illegal marijuana shops, violent crime, murders, shootings, stabbings. What is the difference from a crime perspective between a legal pot shop and an illegal pot shop for the neighborhood and for crime?

Mayor Adams: And that's a great question. I think that many of the illegals, they draw illegal behavior and illegal actions. These legal shops, they bring a level of professionalism. They bring a level of what's expected from the clientele that comes inside. Their product is just an entirely different approach to this. You're not seeing that type of activity at the legal shops.

And that's why we continue to say to New Yorkers, if you're going to patronize the industry, patronize the legal shops. And sometimes it's different to distinguish between the two, and that is why we need the local enforcement power and all of the local municipalities.

We know which ones are illegal. The sheriff has been partnering with the other agency, DCWP, the New York City Police Department, and looking at those illegal shops so we could close them down and know that in this city, we only have legal shops.

Question: Mr. Mayor, you already have a law, the public nuisance abatement law, which you have used to shut down shops. It takes a little police work, a couple of trips to the court and you can get an order to shut down new legal shops. How come you don't use that law more before going to seek new power?

And then for Assemblywoman Rajkumar in Albany, you voted no on legalizing weed. Knowing what you know now about how the program rolls out, do you stand by that vote? Do you think it was the right vote at the time? Or, would you change it now?

Mayor Adams: We have been, you know, some of the stats that I've announced of how much we've confiscated, how many citations we issued, how many fines we issued, is showing that we're using the powers that we have, but it takes far too long.

We say let's localize, give us the authority. Right now the New York City Police Department but we cannot go in and inspect for marijuana. That's a major blockage in our plan. If I could have each precinct be responsible to go after those illegal shops and do those inspections, we can expedite the closing down of illegal operation.

Waiting six, seven months, given fines that those who are doing illegal action see it as just a cost of doing business, that is not going to solve the problem that we are facing and it's not going to prevent the destabilizing of the legal market.

Right on this block, you could have four or five illegal shops that were open, and they will undermine this legal operation that is following all the rules, all the procedures. And by the time you go through the labor intense court system, this business can lose business and actually lose operation. He was asking about...

Assemblywoman Rajkumar: Yes. I think that with the 2021 cannabis law was a sea change, and there was a lot of debates at the time. We all universally agreed in decriminalization because people should not be suffering in prison, our young people, for low‑level marijuana offenses. That's just not right.

There was a lot of disagreement over enforcement issues, there was concern over addiction issues, and people wanted some provisions in there to fight addiction. But in the end it was passed and here we are, and now we need to deal with the present situation, and that's what I've been laser focused on in terms of shutting down these illegal shops. Thanks for your question.

Mayor Adams: What's up, Tim?

Question: How are you?

Mayor Adams: Good.

Question: So, the assemblywoman's legislation goes further than that what the governor put in the budget in terms of giving the other cities powers to shut down illegal shops. Are you on the same page with the governor? What do you want the governor to be saying about pressing legislatures, the legislature on how far [inaudible].

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Question: And then secondly, I wanted to ask you, there was a report in the city that– I don't remember where it was— recently saying that the state is not collecting most of the fines. How many [inaudible]. I don't know if you saw that though.

Mayor Adams: No. No, I didn't. You said the state. Yes, well because in New York we like collecting fines as we have to, you know, so.

I have one mission: to close down the illegal shops. And being a former state senator, I know how this operates. There's legislations that's placed in, there's proposals put in by the governor. You have to get both houses involved, both the assembly and the Senate.

What I think the assemblywoman did is really put this conversation to the universe, what the Governor's doing is putting it in the universe, and now the lawmakers are going to do their thing. They're going to all come to the table, they're going to look at the various proposals, the various legislations, and they're going to come out with a fair legislation that won't harm the industry, won't go back to criminalizing the industry, but at the same time, allowing the local municipalities to do their jobs.

And so, this is at the beginning of the conversations, and I believe there's a deal to be made that's a win‑win, and we're looking forward to that.

Question: So, are you on the same page with the governor?

Mayor Adams: I'm on the same page with localizing enforcement. And everybody that's on that page, I'm on the page with it. The governor and I had spoken. She clearly understands why it's important that we get this right so that we don't have the over‑proliferation of illegal shops.

So, I'm on the same page. whoever starts with giving us authority on our local level, that's the page I'm on.