By Jeff Martin
Stewart Ritchie of Native Offerings Farm has been highly successful in the organic produce busi-ness; now he wants to focus on bringing another cash crop to Ellicottville.
Ritchie approached village council on Dec. 19 at its regular meeting regarding his proposal to build a cannabis dispensary within the village.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Ritchie said. “I know this town and the people and feel like it’s a second home to me.”
Ritchie, who has been growing and selling organic produce and other products on his farm since 1997, said the dispensary is a natural business progression for him. No specific site has been deter-mined, however, but it would be within walking distance of the Main Street corridor. The size of the store is about 1,200 square feet, he said after the meeting, and they would sell different flowering strands of various potency, gummies, vape supplies and merchandise.
What’s different, he said, will be its presentation and, most importantly, the product.
The name of the cannabis portion of his business is Rural Resurgence, LLC and unlike many dis-pensaries in the county, the products sold at his store will be regulated. Inspected by the state, each product will come with a QR code that, when scanned, will tell the consumer the history of the prod-uct, its exact ingredients, and its exact levels of potency. Like many, Ritchie has heard the horror sto-ries of people purchasing product at other dispensaries, only to find the potency too much or too little – or, of more concern, product that’s been tainted. A percentage of the product will also be home grown on his farm, he said, with supplemental products being used from other regulated growers.
Ritchie, who is the only legal cannabis grower in Cattaraugus County, said the business would be for adults only. Admission will be regulated: no one under 21 years of age would be permitted to enter, not even to purchase a T-shirt. There will be a trained salesperson on site and cameras inside and out.
“We’re sensitive to what Ellicottville means to a lot of people,” he said. We’re not going to market this to the wake and bake crowd. I think a lot of people will be surprised.”
Future plans for the business include home delivery, he said. If all stays on track, Ritchie said the business could be open by late April.
Board members were receptive to the idea and agreed to work closely with Ritchie to establish the proper zoning adherence as well as proper location.
Kathleen Moriarty, Interfaith Caregivers
In other news, Kathleen Moriarty of Interfaith Caregivers of Olean informed the board of her wish to bring an existing medical equipment loan center closer to village seniors.
Moriarty said the success of such a program is already evident in towns like Hamburg, where such a program is fully funded and operated by volunteers and caregivers. Medical durables and senior transportation is provided. Now, Moriarty wants to see that happen in Ellicottville, Great Valley and surrounding areas.
Described as a “satellite location,” the new location would be centrally located in an unused por-tion of the Ellicottville Department of Works building, specifically a renovated space in front where the CEO office was. That area is separated from the back half of the building, which would still be used by the village as needed.
The plans have been in discussion for some time, she said. The interfaith board is hoping for a first quarter opening in 2024, provided all goes well.
“It would be a good location,” she told board members. “We know there is a need in Ellicottville among seniors.”
All services and supplies would be free, she said. This is made possible through donations and the Bob McCarthy Foundation.