Good Grades, located at 162-03 Jamaica Ave. in Jamaica, reopened following extensive renovations.
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Good Grades, the first woman-owned retail cannabis dispensary in Queens, reopened to the public in Jamaica on Nov. 15 after undergoing an extensive $1 million renovation.
The first legal retail dispensary in Queens, co-owned by Extasy James and her cousin, Michael James, opened as a temporary “pop-up” in March at 162-03 Jamaica Ave. in the heart of Jamaica.
In August, the pop-up closed to renovate the sprawling 4,000-square-foot space in collaboration with Salt Construction Management and Seven Point Interiors under the creative direction of Michael James.
With its open-floor layout, the store is bright and airy, providing a clean and upscale atmosphere aiming to dispel the stoner stereotype.
Good Grades sells edibles, smoke-related items, tinctures and topicals from leading cannabis brands and vets the highest quality, organic and locally-grown cannabis products via weekly “Report Cards” and only promotes products that receive an A rating.
Extasy James’ father was deported due to a cannabis offense and the co-owners received their license through the state’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license program, which prioritized licensure to operate for those impacted by cannabis prohibition and enforcement and their family members.
Michael James, a Jamaica, Queens, native and lawyer for minority business owners, said their emphasis on education first made them stand out from the other legal dispensaries in the city.
Good Grades team members, referred to as “budtenders,” are present throughout the dispensary to provide educational materials from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).
Michael James shared that their store established a four-year, $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 per year) for full-time undergraduate students in select majors and prioritizes applicants from communities disproportionately…
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