The Oneida Indian Nation’s recreational marijuana business, already one of the largest in the state, is growing this month with the opening of two new retail cannabis shops in Central New York.
The nation’s seed-to-sale cannabis business, called Verona Collective, plans to open one new shop (dispensary) at 10 E. State St. in Sherrill, Oneida County, on Jan. 16. It expects to open the other one at 606 E. Genesee St. in Chittenango, Madison County, on Jan. 23.
They will join the nation’s two existing retail shops, both of which opened in the town of Verona early last year. Those are at 5250 Willow Place (across from the main entrance of Turning Stone casino) and in the Verona Crossroads at 5528 State Route 31.
The two new shops will be closer to Syracuse and Onondaga County than the first two, but both are still located on Oneida tribal land.
The Verona Collective plans to open two additional shops on nation lands later this year, but has not disclosed those locations.
The shops sell cannabis products that are grown, processed and packaged by the Verona Collective on Hill Road in Verona, not far from Turning Stone.
Products include whole flower, pre-rolled joints, vapes, concentrates and edibles like gummies and chocolates under the Verona Collective’s brand names Trim & Proper, CNY Provisions, Humble & Kind and Fair Shake.
The Verona Collective launched at the end of 2023. Its production so far has exceeded expectations, the nation said in the news release.
“Our guests’ response to the quality of our cannabis, competitive pricing, our large selection of products, the professionalism of our team and the incredible experiences they find at our dispensaries has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Ryan Riggs, retail vice president for the nation’s business arm, Turning Stone Enterprises. “We are excited to welcome new guests to our locations in Sherrill and Chittenango and introduce them to an exceptional cannabis experience.”
The Verona Collective, like other Indian-nation operated cannabis businesses, is not subject to the oversight of the state Office of Cannabis Management. OCM regulates the non-native cannabis industry, which has grown to include 282 retail dispensaries around the state.
Through a 2013 settlement with the state, the Oneidas agreed to tax their retail products, such as cannabis, at a level equivalent to state and local tax. That is meant to avoid creating too great a competitive edge with non-Indian businesses. In this case, taxes the Oneidas collect on cannabis go to fund its own governmental operations.
Verona Collective also sends all its products for quality control testing at the same labs used by the state’s licensed facilities.
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.
New shops will be in Sherrill and Chittenango. Read More
