Hudson’s Cannabis Pop-up Hosted by Gotham Dispensary

High in Hudson: Curated Cannabis at Hudson’s Caboose

By Melissa Esposito | December 15, 2023

Recreational cannabis use has been legal in New York since 2021, yet as of this writing, there are only 32 licensed dispensaries, according to the Office of Cannabis Management, open across the state. Because New York’s much-anticipated dispensary rollout has taken much longer than expected, growers who had prepared to sell their harvest this year were on the verge of being left with an expensive surplus that couldn’t legally be sold in the fall. To address the issue, the state introduced Cannabis Growers Showcases, which allowed farmers to sell directly to customers in a controlled setting from harvest season through the end of the year. Several vendors set up shops in open-air markets similar to farmer’s markets, like the first Showcase in the Village of New Paltz. Others created a pop-up shop experience within an existing brick-and-mortar store, like the Gardiner-based Showcase at Honey’s Cannabis.

Over in Hudson, Manhattan-based dispensary Gotham opened a pop-up at renovated barn venue The Caboose that’s taken the Showcase concept to another level by pairing cannabis with curated body and home products in a boutique setting. “We want to promote cannabis as a lifestyle, not just as a one-off purchase,” says Gotham Dispensary CEO Joanne Wilson, who spearheaded the Hudson pop-up. “We sell cannabis flowers, prerolls, and edibles, but also pillows, pipes, tees, and candles. For instance, you’ll see sleep gummies beside a sleep mask and a beautiful throw blanket, all for sale to help encourage restful sleep.”

Gotham’s flagship store opened in the Bowery neighborhood this past May, offering two retail and gallery space floors. The goal was to create a dispensary that provided an experience of comfort when other dispensaries tend to feel intimidating or cold. The Hudson pop-up maintains the same vibe, offering cannabis products from local farms like Hudson Cannabis, Florist Farms in Cortland, and Harney Brothers in Millbrook. “A lot of these farmers over-grew because dispensaries did not open fast enough,” Wilson explains, “and when we heard about the opportunity to offer a Grower’s Showcase, we felt Hudson made sense as an ideal location. We have hopes to eventually have a licensed location here, too — we’ve been extremely happy in Hudson; the experience has been amazing.”

So what’s to come for Gotham after the anticipated December 31 end date for Grower’s Showcases around the state?

“We’ll find out! We hope it’ll be extended; there’s been talk about this possibility,” Wilson explains. “If not, we’ll be back in Hudson as soon as we can.”

Thinking about checking out the pop-up before it ends?

The Caboose is located at 60 South Front Street in Hudson, and the Gotham Pop-up takes place Thursdays-Sundays, 11 am-7 pm, through December 31st.

Here’s a look at the top local cannabis products they’ve sold so far:

1. Florist Farms: Bedtime Blueberry Sleep Gummies
A pack of 10 cannabis-infused blueberry-flavored gummies to promote restful sleep.

2. FlowerHouse: Gas Face Flower
A sativa-leaning hybrid strain ideal for daytime activity while promoting a sense of bliss.

3. Hudson Cannabis: Farmer’s Blend Prerolls and Flower
A hybrid blend of 3+ strains from their Hudson Valley farm that offers a unique entourage effect.

4. Harney Brothers: Orange Mango Sparkling Water
A cannabis-infused sparkling water with 5 mg THC and 10 mg CBD per serving.