Air City Cannabis is open for business and looking to provide a safe, educational, and supportive environment for customers while destigmatizing cannabis as a whole.
Founded by Courtney Forester, a Rome local, said Air City was the first licensed cannabis dispensary in Mohawk Valley. “We weren’t the first to open, but we were the first licensee,” she said. “We’re a women-led dispensary — one of the few in the state.”
She added that the dispensary gets its name from Rome and the Griffiss Air Force Base. And while Utica is where they chose to open their first retail location, there are plans for expansion into Rome and other surrounding areas.
This isn’t Forester’s first foray into the business world. She owns i-Candies Fashion Boutique and has been in the business for 12 years.
“It’s a different set of retail products, but I’ve been able to carry that experience over and create a strong team to serve the city and surrounding areas,” Forester said.
When asked why she chose to get into the cannabis business, Forester said she felt it was stigmatized and saw an opportunity to create a setting that “…isn’t the norm and help people realize the benefits of these plants.”
Offering a wide selection of flowers, edibles, tinctures, drinks, and more, Forester hopes to offer help to those who are dealing with pain, stress, and more.
“We’re looking to have a storefront that’s welcome, inviting, and professional with lab-tested and state-regulated products,” she said. “It sets us apart from the illegal operations because you don’t know what you’re getting from them.”
Responsible Use
As part of its efforts to educate and inform its customers, Air City Cannabis has been giving away lockboxes and encouraging those with children and pets to lock up their cannabis.
“We want to shed light and bring awareness to safe cannabis use,” Forester said. “Going the right way about it is the right way to do it.”
Forester said that while she’s not a daily user, she uses cannabis on occasion — about once a week.
“We have customers who consume daily for stress but for me, when I’ve had a long week and the kids are in bed? I’ll have a smoke, relax my mind, and let go of the stress.”
Air City Cannabis is located at 1707 Oriskany Street West in Utica and open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., closing at 8 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, visit aircitycannabis.com.
