People to know in NY cannabis: Joanne Wilson

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Joanne Wilson founded Gotham in New York City. The store, located at E. 3rd and Bowery, is a licensed Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary and is both a cannabis and cultural concept store. Wilson answered eight simple questions for NY Cannabis Insider’s ‘People to know’ series.

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What is your position and what do you/your company do in the cannabis space?

I am the founder and CEO of Gotham, a premium cannabis and cultural concept store located on E. 3rd and Bowery.

How long have you worked in the cannabis space?

I have been a long-time supporter and consumer of the cannabis industry. I began looking into a legal license over a year ago when New York State announced the CAURD program. Along with my beneficiary partner, STRIVE, I opened Gotham in May 2023.

What did you do before you were involved in the cannabis industry?

I am moving into my 15th career. Prior to jumping into the cannabis industry, I was an early-stage angel investor with a focus on women, Black, and brown founders. I’ve invested in over 150 companies including Food52, Eater, Just Works, Blue Bottle Coffee, Parachute Home and more.

I was the cofounder of the Women’s Entrepreneur Festival that we put on for seven years with our partners at NYU. I am the cofounder of Frame Home where we have built carbon-free apartment buildings. I sit on the board of the High Line and chair the Public Housing Community Fund.

What led you to the cannabis industry?

Like many, my first puff was in 8th grade, and even then I did not understand why cannabis was illegal. I entered the retail world after graduating college, and that love has never ceased. During COVID, this idea of a concept store was rattling around my brain. I wanted a store that you could walk into that felt like someone’s home. You can sit there, have a coffee or lunch and shop for anyone in your family. That’s the inspiration for Gotham. Through this store, which we see as the future of retail, I really wanted to change the narrative around cannabis.

There should be no stigma around cannabis. Ten years from now, cannabis will be a major part of our health industry, as it is in other countries, such as Israel. The false narrative that has been fed to us from the federal government needs to change.

Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into the NY weed industry?

There are many hurdles you encounter getting a license to operate in New York’s cannabis space.

Banking is difficult, insurance is difficult, and every day the rules change. It is costly to adhere to the rules and regulations set forth by the Office of Cannabis Management. You are also operating in an oversaturated illegal market with thousands of unlicensed dispensaries. Capital is hard to come by and will continue to be until cannabis becomes federally legal.

Massive hurdles, all, but being on the ground floor in this arena is exciting and challenging. High risk, but hopefully high reward.

What do you think the NY cannabis ecosystem will look like in five years?

We’re witnessing a market that has been illegal since 1936 – become legal state by state (and still classified as federally illegal) – take shape in real time. So of course we are seeing hiccups; how could we not? As every facet of the market evolves, including closing illegal stores, we will eventually see a robust New York market be able to serve the cannabis customer.

How long that will take is unclear, but the players in the space are working extremely hard at building this new industry, be it a dispensary, a brand, or a farmer.

Dealing with bureaucracy is never easy anywhere, but every person I have met is determined to be here for the long haul.

Do you use cannabis? If so, what’s your favorite method?

I’m a huge cannabis fan. I love smoking it, popping an edible, or even sipping on a cannabis-infused drink. Gotham has its own private label line of products and I am a huge fan of the CBD lotion.

Who should contact you, and what’s the best method?

I prefer email: joanne@gotham.nyc.