Tim Scoma is pictured with New York-grown cannabis and a can of cannabis-infused water.
JAMESTOWN — For Tim Scoma, it seemed like all work and no play transforming the former Patient’s Pharmacy in Jamestown into a showcase for recreational cannabis. Now that the 320 N. Main St. dispensary is open, he’s finally having a little bit of fun.
“When we are operating, yes, it’s extremely fun,” Scoma told The Post-Journal, “but it was extremely stressful when it came to making sure all the paperwork was in and all the growers were in.”
An area resident, Scoma is head manager of the temporary cannabis outlet that’s operating under the name Herbal IQ.
New York-grown cannabis and related products will be available for purchase through the end of the year. It’s part of the state-sponsored Cannabis Growers Showcase, an initiative that permits cannabis growers and processors to offer locally-grown cannabis products to consumers.
“This is a huge positive for the city when it comes to making sure that the community is ingesting tested, New York-created, products,” Scoma said. “It’s huge when it comes to jobs in New York, when it comes to the health of New York’s community, and also when it comes to Jamestown itself. It’s going to be bringing tax dollars to the county.” Scoma’s mom, Diane Matthews, owns Patient’s Pharmacy, which recently moved from downtown Jamestown to a plaza on Fairmount Avenue in West Ellicott. Scoma then spent time overhauling the former pharmacy into a suitable location to sell a variety of cannabis and related products.
P-J photo by Eric Tichy
Tim Scoma is pictured inside Herbal IQ, a temporary cannabis dispensary that has opened at 320 N. Main St., Jamestown.
The benefits of hosting a growers showcase are clear to Scoma.
“The showcase helps the growers. It helps the growers get their product out,” he said. “It helps the community learn about the growers and their products. It helps the dispensary owners, with the building owners like myself. And it also helps the card license make sales.”
Indeed, the cannabis sold in Jamestown originated in New York. Thomas Spanos, a cannabis attorney and part of the local outlet, said the dispensary features product by one Chautauqua County grower while product from another local grower is expected to be added later. “It’s kind of a win for everybody involved,” Spanos said last week. “It’s a win for the retailer — they get another place that they can sell products through and they get their margin. It’s a great opportunity for the location owners as well as the staff. … And it’s also a win for the growers and the processors who have another chance to get their products out there, but also the chance to see people in person and tell them about the products.”
In New York state, adults age 21 and older can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower or bud, or up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis such as oils and vapes. It is not legal for anyone younger than 21 to have, use or share cannabis.
The Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act was signed into law on March 31, 2021.
Jamestown’s first temporary dispensary has now been open for about a week.
Scoma, who didn’t want to discuss sales numbers other than to say “business has been good,” said customers have varied in both age and the products they’re buying. He noted that many of the older customers who have come in are buying cannabis gummies that can help them sleep while others are looking for traditional marijuana that can be rolled up and smoked or is already pre-rolled for use.
Herbal IQ is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 31. Scoma hopes the hours work for customers who may want to stop on their lunch break or come in after work.
“This is all new,” he said. “I’m just learning the demographics right now and who’s going to be coming in.” Being in the pharmacy business, Scoma is used to following strict mandates and regulations. He’s thankful for the assistance of the state Office of Cannabis Management to get the dispensary open. He also alluded to “a whole lot of stress” leading up to the outlet’s opening.
“They understand the stresses of the business and they try to make it as easy as possible while still maintaining regulations and making sure we’re all in compliance,” he said of the Office of Cannabis Management. “They were just a huge help in getting this open.”
After the showcase ends, Scoma is looking at establishing a more permanent dispensary at the same location.
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