Millerton should welcome its first dispensary

A dispensary is coming to Millerton in a few months, bringing legal cannabis sales to the village for the first time since North East-based growers Alchemy Pure and Harney Brothers Cannabis operated a short-lived pop-up in September 2023.

While the announcement has drawn some criticism from community members, the overwhelming majority have welcomed the new business that will occupy 32 Main St. The Millerton News welcomes Douglas Broughton’s Black Rabbit Farms dispensary, which will generate tax revenue and further the long-standing tradition of diversity among the village’s businesses.

Since New York legalized retail cannabis sales in 2022, the number of dispensaries has grown rapidly across the state. As of November 2025, the Office of Cannabis Management reported more than 550 licensed retailers. Those retail dispensaries accounted for more than $1.5 billion in sales last year, bringing total cumulative sales since legalization to $2.5 billion.

As a result, more than $340.6 million in state and local tax revenue was generated across New York between April 2023 and November 2025, according to the Office of Cannabis Management’s 2025 annual report.

In 2024, 43 towns, cities and villages recorded a total of $7.75 million in revenue from retail cannabis sales taxes, according to data obtained through the New York State Comptroller’s Open Book program.

While it’s unlikely that this dispensary will generate hundreds of thousands in tax revenue, it will still provide Millerton with a meaningful source of new funding.

In a village that’s pursuing a brand-new pool and a centralized wastewater system, all while keeping the lights on in a world where everything is getting more expensive, any additional revenue is a boon.

And, in keeping with an unwritten tradition to keep things local, this dispensary is an arm of Douglas Broughton’s Black Rabbit Farms operation based in Wassaic.

Broughton possesses what’s known as a “microbusiness” license from the Office of Cannabis Management. Those licenses allow smaller-scale operators to grow, package, distribute, sell and deliver their own products.

He grows his cannabis at his home farm in Wassaic, just 11 miles from the storefront he’s rented on Millerton’s Main Street. In conversations with The News, Broughton said he plans to stock additional products from other microbusinesses in the area, emphasizing a commitment to high-quality products from local growers.

Millerton has a time-honored reputation for celebrating and welcoming local business owners, even when new ventures draw criticism.

This dispensary is no different. Readers of The News voiced their support in dozens of comments on social media, and community members told us they were excited about the dispensary coming to town in the weeks since we published our report. Many cited shorter travel times for cannabis purchases as a major benefit.

The News joins those voices in welcoming this new business to Millerton’s vibrant downtown. The village’s diversity is a core strength, one that continues to attract strong businesses and a community ready to support them.