Brookhaven Town has welcomed its first legal cannabis shop, Strong Strains, which officially opened its doors in East Setauket. Dr. Surinder Sandhu, a retired emergency room physician, founded the dispensary after a personal journey that shifted his perspective on cannabis following positive results for his mother’s health from medical marijuana.
Located in the Stony Brook Technology Center, Strong Strains is the only licensed recreational marijuana shop in Brookhaven. The store’s opening comes after a two-year effort to secure the necessary zoning approvals from the town and a retail cannabis license from New York State. Town officials confirmed that Strong Strains is among eight legal cannabis dispensaries operating in Suffolk County.
Spanning 4,300 square feet, Strong Strains employs 15 staff and offers a variety of cannabis products, including CBD gummies, drinks, and vape cartridges. Sandhu expressed excitement about being the first dispensary in Brookhaven, stating, “We are very lucky to be the first one to open up in the town of Brookhaven.”
To comply with local regulations, which typically require cannabis shops to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, playgrounds, and places of worship, the town granted a variance to allow Strong Strains to operate at a distance of 500 feet from a nearby dance studio. Sandhu remarked on the challenges faced during the approval process, stating he experienced many sleepless nights before reaching the goal of opening his store.
The demand for cannabis products is supported by the growing number of establishments in the area, with Strong Strains positioned more than 20 miles from the nearest competitor. Sandhu hopes that employees from local businesses will frequent the shop. Safety measures include a guard at the entrance to verify customer identification, as state law mandates that customers must be at least 21 years old to purchase cannabis.
Sandhu’s views on cannabis evolved over the years, particularly after witnessing his 93-year-old mother’s rheumatoid arthritis improve with medical marijuana. He believes cannabis can effectively treat various conditions, including sleep disorders and anxiety, emphasizing that it serves purposes beyond recreational use.
Currently, municipalities that permit cannabis dispensaries are entitled to a 4% share of sales tax revenue from cannabis sales, with Brookhaven receiving 3% and the county taking 1%. While the town has not yet decided how to allocate this revenue, it signifies a new revenue stream for local governance.
Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico noted that a shop in Medford has received state approval but is pending final local approvals. Other potential dispensaries in Farmingville and Medford are also in the process of obtaining necessary permits.
Charles Tramontana, president of the Three Village Civic Association, expressed cautious optimism regarding Strong Strains, citing its location within a commercial industrial park as a positive factor. He hopes the dispensary will adhere to local regulations and be a good neighbor.
With the increasing acceptance of cannabis in New York and the establishment of Strong Strains, Brookhaven’s community is beginning to embrace the evolving cannabis landscape.
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