Air City Cannabis is open for business and seeks to provide a safe, educational and supportive environment for customers while destigmatizing cannabis as a whole.
Founded by Rome resident Courtney Forester, said Air City was the first licensed cannabis dispensary in the Mohawk Valley. “We weren’t the first to open, but we were the first licensees,” she said. “We are a female-owned dispensary – one of the few in the state.”
She added that the dispensary’s name comes from Rome and Griffiss Air Force Base. And although Utica was the place where they chose to open their first commercial store, there are plans to expand to Rome and other neighboring areas.
This isn’t Forester’s first foray into the business world. She is the owner of i-Candies Fashion Boutique and has been in the business for 12 years.
“It’s a different set of retail products, but I was able to take that experience 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 stigmatized and saw an opportunity to create an environment that is “…not the norm and help people realize the benefits of these plants.”
Offering a wide selection of flowers, foods, tinctures, beverages and more, Forester hopes to provide help to those dealing with pain, stress and more.
“We want to have a store that is welcoming, inviting and professional, with products that are lab tested and regulated by the state,” she said. “That sets us apart from illegal operations because you don’t know what you’re getting out of them.”
Responsible use
As part of its efforts to educate and inform its customers, Air City Cannabis has been distributing safes and encouraging those with children and pets to lock up their cannabis.
“We want to shed light and raise awareness about the safe use of cannabis,” Forester said. “Taking the high road is the right way to do it.”
Forester said that although she is not a daily user, she uses cannabis occasionally – about once a week.
“We have clients who consume daily because of stress, but for me, when I’ve had a long week and the kids are in bed? I will smoke, relax my mind and get rid of stress.”
Air City Cannabis is located at 1707 Oriskany Street West in Utica and is open seven days a week from 10am to 9pm, closing at 8pm on Sundays. For more information, visit aircitycannabis.com.
