Fifth New Dispensary Opens on the UWS

The fifth licensed dispensary to open on the Upper West Side is The Sanctuary Garden. Located at 2610 Broadway between 98th and 99th Streets, The Sanctuary Garden welcomed its first customers in September 2025 and is founded by Daron Hudson, a longtime community organizer and social worker who played a key role in New York City’s first legal dispensary launch in 2022.

Location and Hours

The Sanctuary Garden operates daily from 8 a.m. to midnight, enabling locals and visitors broad access to its retail offerings. Its position near the corner of 99th Street makes it easily accessible within the neighborhood.

Products and Experience

The dispensary features a wide variety of cannabis products, including flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, and CBD items sourced from New York State cultivators. The store’s design and atmosphere are intended to foster community, education, and inclusivity. Customers must be age 21 or older and show a valid ID to enter.

Mission and Ownership

Founder Daron Hudson is recognized for his advocacy and commitment to making cannabis retail accessible and equitable. The Sanctuary Garden aims to go beyond basic transactions, serving as a community-focused space for healing and education. Hudson’s background as a justice-involved individual who helped launch New York’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program underscores his emphasis on inclusivity and legacy within the cannabis industry.

Competitive Landscape

The Sanctuary Garden joins four other licensed dispensaries—Super Fly, The Flowery, Just A Little Higher, and Flower Power Dispensers—solidifying the Upper West Side as a leading destination for regulated cannabis access in New York City.

The arrival of The Sanctuary Garden reflects the ongoing transformation of cannabis retail in the neighborhood, with an emphasis on licensed, community-driven stores that provide both quality products and educational support.