By Rick Pezzullo
White Plains officials, business owners and customers were in high spirits last Friday at a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially usher in Leafology, the first state-licensed recreational cannabis business in Westchester County.
“Thank you for investing in our community,” White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach said at the Apr. 19 event at 244 Main St.
Christopher Weldon, one of a trio of family-owned licensees, said plans for Leafology to set up shop in White Plains began in 2020. It took 33 months for Chief Operating Officer Raphael Bassalobre and investors to go through the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) licensing process.
“The location is phenomenal. It’s been a breath of fresh air working with city officials,” Weldon said. “We offer a different experience, a very personalized experience. We’re looking forward to many more years.”
The Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act was signed into law on March 31, 2021 legalizing adult-use cannabis in New York State. The legislation created the OCM that is governed by a Cannabis Control Board to comprehensively regulate adult-use, medical, and hemp cannabis. The OCM issues licenses and develops regulations outlining how a business can participate in the growing industry.
Leafology, which had a soft opening
