Greenfield has a new recreational cannabis dispensary and if you haven’t taken a look, you might be surprised by what you see. Reef Cannabis Dispensary, at 2532 Route 9N (Stewart’s plaza) is a well-thought-out recreational cannabis boutique that is sure to appeal to its wide audience of customers.

Its vibe is that of “rustic-country chic,” with rough cut lumber counters and Adirondack interior design. It is cleaner than any store around, but comfortable with its loungers, bar stools, water fountain and music. Local art is featured on the walls, along with festive lights strung from end to end.

Its entire inviting ambience is geared to making a person relax and feel unjudged whether you are a marijuana connoisseur, or a nosy neighbor wondering what all the fuss is about. The clientele includes, well, just about everyone. From a grandma and grandpa hand in hand looking for better sleep or help with chronic pain, to a 22-year-old on the way to a concert. And everyone in between, quite literally.

Owner Mason Mello says the job is as rewarding as they come. “We want to help people to enjoy themselves and have a fun time exploring and learning,” he said. “We want them to leave with smiles on their faces, so they’ll keep coming back.”

Mello opened the dispensary in March of 2024 after a couple of years of getting things moving as the state got its licensing and regulations together. Although it was some legal “gymnastics” at first, it has been smooth sailing ever since.

Mello had been a meat manager at Hannaford Foods for more than ten years, which gave him a knack for customer service. He credits growing up as one of two brothers with a single mom, for giving him his hunger and motivation to work hard.

Customers are pouring in for all sorts of reasons, Mello said. There are those who want to stop drinking alcohol or taking opioids. Many people are looking for relief for pain and sleep problems. In this world where “self-help” is at the front of everyone’s minds, Mello said business is very steady.

“We love to work with our customers to help them find exactly the product they are looking for,” he said. “We always stress that we are not doctors, but there are many who find that THC products (tetrahydrocannabinol) help with anything from anxiety to post traumatic stress disorder to dementia and other ailments like irritable bowel syndrome.”

“The effects are very individualized but are safe for recreational use,” he said. “It also has been an eye opener to learn how many people live with various amounts of pain and are looking for any apothecary pain relief,” he said.

The store is immaculate, with beautiful merchandising of all of the more 250 products containing THC. All products are tested and have a certificate of authentication, and a QR code that is scannable to explain ingredients and instructions. Products sprinkled about the store are all empty packages with signs reading “fake please don’t take,” so customers can see exactly what the package will look like. A centralized bar houses “bud sniffers” of the products to smell along with three menu viewing tablets that can be brought to a lounge chair for a relaxed perusal. Staff are available to help educate customers and find the right products.

Mello spent weeks visiting local farmers and those across the state, so the products would be locally sourced, not mass produced. His sourcing farms are Slack Hollow in Argyle and Tap Roots in Skaneateles; Gold Finch in Amsterdam; Canna Cure in Hadley; Simple in Granville; among others. 

Products are all detailed on the store’s website and include edibles, flowers/buds, accessories, tinctures, and THC beverages (sodas, seltzers and ciders). Merchandise like Reef Dispensary trucker hats, winter hats, tee shirts, sweatshirts and tumblers are sold.

The five staff members were as carefully selected as the products. A humorous movie poster sits on the counter featuring Captain Amanda, Super James, Still Kenny, Clever Payton and Tall Cam. (see below) Each of these engaging staff members has a special skill they add to the team such as Kenny’s people skills, Cam’s product knowledge and James’ knack for efficient inventory control. Mello said the five employees are passionate about the store and two of them are Greenfield residents.

“Greenfield is a perfect town because it is not huge and is in the woods and near the Adirondacks,” Mello said. “The people at Town Hall have been so extremely easy to work with and supportive. We find the people of Greenfield and Corinth are so nice, enthusiastic and happy.” 

Mello, a 49-year-old who lives in Milton, is shopping for a home in the TOG. His brother Dylan and his family already live in the TOG. Mello has been married for 22 years and has two sons, a high schooler at CBA in Albany and an 18-year-old at SUNY Albany.

Mello is serious about this business making a positive impact in the TOG community. He has jumped right in with event sponsorships and donations to community organizations and hopes to have a presence for education and product merchandise sales at this summer’s TOG Farmers Market.

“We wish them the best of luck here in Greenfield,” said Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch. “Mello and his staff are responsible business owners who have invested in our community. I know our loyal TOG residents are happy to welcome them and help them succeed.”

Mello has big plans for the future. He’d love to add a grow center where customers can learn how to grow and purchase seeds. He’d also love to add a spot for social consumption, when New York legalizes such a thing.

With the legalization of marijuana in New York, we are all faced with a whole new thing we must educate ourselves on. Our TOG dispensary Reef Cannabis is here to help bring marijuana into the mainstream.

Customers can order ahead anytime online and pick up at the store. The store is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. A full menu can be viewed on the reef website at https://reef-dispensary.com/.

This article is meant to inform the residents of Greenfield about a local business. The Town of Greenfield does not endorse one business over another. Instead, the Town supports all local business and wishes to highlight as many businesses as we can to foster a sense of community and help encourage our residents to shop locally.

If you are a legitimate business or nonprofit organization that is based in our Town, are you listed in our online community directories? If you would like to be added or possibly featured in an upcoming article like this one, please email information to info@greenfieldny.org.