Hudson Cannabis, a prominent weed farm in the Hudson Valley, has recently reached an impressive milestone: they have delivered over 100,000 affordable “dime” bags of legal cannabis to licensed retail pot shops throughout New York State. These dime bags are sold for $10 or even less, making them accessible to customers on a budget.
Since the legalization of cannabis in New York, dispensaries and cultivators have predominantly opted to sell the product in one-eighth ounce increments, often priced at $70 or more. However, Hudson Cannabis broke the mold by not only packaging but also legally delivering cannabis in old-school “dime” bags almost two years ago. This innovative approach allows customers with limited budgets to roll a small joint or sample a new brand or strain without breaking the bank.
Melany Dobson, CEO of Hudson Cannabis and co-founder along with her sister Freya, expressed her delight at having sold over 100,000 dime bags in New York State. She explained that their decision to sell in dime bags not only pays homage to the traditional way cannabis was sold but also makes weed accessible to a wider demographic of consumers who might otherwise be priced out of the market. The company’s dedication to sustainability is evident in the fact that each dime bag is compostable, biodegradable, and part of their closed-loop system, which prioritizes the plant rather than the packaging.
Hudson Cannabis packages and delivers its dime bags and other weed products to 131 licensed dispensaries across the state. The farm employs a workforce of 65 people who are responsible for cultivating, processing, packaging, and distributing their goods to over 100 retail stores. They also process the flower into various THC-infused products such as edibles on site at the farm.
With the rapid growth of the legal cannabis market, there have been days when staff members at Hudson Cannabis were solely focused on packaging dime bags, each containing 0.7 grams – approximately a joint’s worth of weed. Apart from offering dime bags, the company also produces pre-rolled joints and provides larger quantities of weed in packages ranging from two grams to one-eighth of an ounce, as well as vape cartridges.
Melany Dobson compared buying dime bags, which contain higher quality and more potent product than a pre-rolled joint, to customers seeking out whole-bean coffee for a fresher taste. Hudson Cannabis’ dime bags have become a favorite among New York’s licensed pot store operators, who sometimes struggle to keep them stocked on their shelves due to high demand.
Osbert Orduna, CEO of The Cannabis Place in Middle Village, Queens, even sells the dime bags for $8 to remain competitive. It’s very popular. We sell a lot of dime bags. We have it in different strains,” Orduna said. He praised Hudson Cannabis for offering products at affordable prices and remarked that they carry the most affordable products in his store.
The Dobson sisters hail from the Berkshires, where their father was an organic farmer who grew both marijuana and vegetables. They previously operated cannabis farms in Northern California’s Mendocino and Humboldt County before establishing their farm in Hudson, upstate Columbia County, seven years ago. Initially, they focused on cultivating hemp but switched to cannabis after state lawmakers and then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo legalized the plant for sale in 2021.
Housing Works and Union Square Travel Agency in Greenwich Village were among the first to sell Hudson Cannabis’ dime bags, while Strain Stars in Farmingdale and Misha’s Flower Shop in Bushwick have also seen strong sales of these affordable products. Today, there are 171 licensed cannabis stores and delivery services in New York State, including 71 within New York City. The first legal pot retail dispensaries opened their doors in 2022.
The growth of the legal cannabis industry in New York has faced challenges such as lawsuits, bureaucratic mishaps, spoiled crops, and a thriving illegal market. However, recent developments, including the closure of hundreds of illicit stores under tougher laws approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul and increased enforcement efforts by Mayor Eric Adams’ cannabis police force led by Sheriff Anthony Miranda, indicate that the legal market is gaining traction in the Empire State.
