Guides

Best Dispensaries in Syracuse, Ithaca and Binghamton

Ten licensed shops across Central New York and the Southern Tier, from Flynnstoned's Armory Square flagship and Erie Boulevard's late-hours strip to Ithaca's Commons and Binghamton's Court Street.

By Priya Nair·October 09, 2026·7 min read

Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse with the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a fountain pool and the Gothic Syracuse Savings Bank — Photo: Kai Brinker / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0), resized

Central New York and the Southern Tier were among the first parts of the state to get legal cannabis. Binghamton made the first licensed adult-use sale outside New York City in February 2023, Ithaca followed a month later, and Syracuse that June. As of early October 2026, the state's "Current OCM Licenses" dataset on data.ny.gov lists about 18 operational adult-use dispensaries in Onondaga County (11 of them in Syracuse), nine in Tompkins County (seven with Ithaca addresses) and eight in Broome County, spread across Binghamton, Vestal and Johnson City.

This guide covers all three cities. Every store below has an active license and an operational storefront in the state dataset as of this week.

How we chose: These are research-based picks, not paid placements. We put the list together from state license records, each shop's own website and menus, and public customer reviews. High Today has published full, fact-checked profiles of five shops in the region, all linked below. The rest get short, factual entries drawn from state data and their own websites, with no ratings. High Today staff did not visit these stores for this guide. Hours vary a lot between listings, so check with the shop before you drive.

Syracuse

Flynnstoned Cannabis Company (Armory Square)

Flynnstoned opened June 16, 2023, at 219 Walton Street. It was Onondaga County's first legal dispensary and the tenth in the state. Owner Michael Flynn, a Syracuse roofing contractor, qualified for CAURD license OCM-CAURD-23-000010 because of a past marijuana conviction. The flagship fills a three-story, 13,000-square-foot former Urban Outfitters building, which OCM billed as the state's largest cannabis shop, and it took in about $30 million in its first year. Since then the brand has expanded through licensing deals. Locally, the state lists Flynnstoned-branded stores on State Fair Boulevard, on Brewerton Road in North Syracuse and on Upper Front Street in Binghamton. It's a good pick for selection and for visitors. Chain perks include a weekday edibles lunch special and free delivery on orders of $100 or more. Expect waits and tight parking at peak hours. Read our full profile

The Higher Company

The Higher Co. opened June 19, 2024, at 123 East Willow Street downtown under CAURD license OCM-CAURD-24-000155. Its main draw is a Flower Bar of about 90 strains. The shop says you can smell samples and look at trichomes under a magnifying glass before you buy, which makes it the downtown pick for flower shoppers. Reviewers say posted prices include tax. You can pre-order through its Dutchie menu for pickup. VedaLeaf's website now lists a "downtown" location at the same address, so check which menu you're ordering from. Read our full profile

VedaLeaf

VedaLeaf is a big CAURD store (OCM-CAURD-24-000198) at 2921 Erie Boulevard East, Suite 3, on the east side toward DeWitt. It opened October 11, 2024. Its website lists hours of 8 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday, the latest posted hours in this guide, but other listings show shorter hours, so call before a late run. It offers delivery and pickup, takes cash, debit and bank transfer, has an on-site ATM, and offers a veteran discount. Read our full profile

Diamond Tree Dispensary

Diamond Tree is also on the Erie Boulevard East strip, at 2700 Erie Boulevard East. It holds CAURD license OCM-CAURD-24-000159 and opened November 16, 2024, per state records. Its website lists store hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and delivery from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and it runs a points-based rewards program.

Thrive Syracuse

Thrive is the third Erie Boulevard East option, at 3065 Erie Boulevard East. It holds CAURD license OCM-CAURD-24-000224 and opened August 15, 2025, according to state records. Its website offers online ordering for pickup and delivery. The site also says its money supports the community by helping rehabilitate formerly incarcerated people. The website and the state filing list different hours, so confirm before you go.

Ithaca

William Jane

William Jane made Tompkins County's first legal adult-use sales in March 2023, as a pop-up at 119 East State Street on the Ithaca Commons. Owner William Durham, a Brooklyn native who grew up in Binghamton, holds early CAURD license OCM-CAURD-23-000006. After a rebuild, the shop reopened in spring 2024 with self-checkout kiosks, a pickup window and indoor-grown flower. As of this week, the state dataset still lists William Jane's license as active and its storefront as operational, with filed hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Its website was down when we checked this week, so call ahead or check a current menu listing before you walk over. Read our full profile

The Highly Connected Dispensary

The Highly Connected is at 423 Franklin Street (14850) in Ithaca. It holds CAURD license OCM-CAURD-24-000187 and opened September 9, 2024, per state records. Its website lists hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The site describes the shop as an immersive, educational space. The state record for the store also lists a drive-thru.

Dryden Dispensary

Dryden Dispensary is east of Ithaca at 2207 Dryden Road in Dryden. It holds a standard retail license (OCM-RETL-24-000009), and the state classifies it as women- and minority-owned. It opened May 6, 2024. Its website describes a walk-in store with a budtender counter and a drive-thru window for prepaid online orders, and lists daily hours starting at 10 a.m.

Binghamton and Broome County

Just Breathe

Just Breathe opened February 10, 2023, at 75 Court Street. It was the first legal adult-use dispensary outside New York City and the third in the state. It's a partnership between entrepreneur Damien Cornwell and the nonprofit Broome County Urban League, under CAURD license OCM-CAURD-23-000004. The shop advertises more than 400 products, with brands like ROVE, Packwoods, Leal and Sapphire Farms. It's the obvious downtown pick for shoppers who care about equity. Sunday hours are short (it opens at noon), and the site and the state disagree on when it closes. Cornwell is also the state contact for Just Breathe Syracuse in Manlius, which opened in October 2024. Read our full profile

Greenery Spot

Greenery Spot is at 246 Main Street in Johnson City, just west of Binghamton. It holds CAURD license OCM-CAURD-23-000013, and state records date its opening to June 29, 2023. It's one of the longest-running stores in Broome County. Its website offers online ordering, and the state filing lists hours until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Other operational Broome stores in the state dataset include Solo Greenery (439 Court St.), Blissful Buds (1332 Upper Front St.) and Sacred Bloom in Vestal.

Before you go

Bring ID. You need a valid government-issued photo ID showing you're 21 or older. See how much cannabis you can legally buy and carry in New York.
Plan your payment. Cash and debit are standard, and debit often comes with a fee.
Don't drive impaired. The I-81 corridor is a long drive, and driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal in New York.
Heading west or east? See our guides to Rochester and the Albany and Capital Region, or browse the High Today dispensary directory.

Frequently asked questions

How many dispensaries are open in Syracuse?

The state's Current OCM Licenses dataset lists 11 operational adult-use dispensaries with Syracuse addresses and about 18 across Onondaga County as of early October 2026, including stores in North Syracuse, Liverpool, Clay, Manlius and Skaneateles.

Is William Jane in Ithaca still open?

As of this week, the state dataset lists William Jane's license (OCM-CAURD-23-000006) as active and its 119 E. State St. storefront as operational, with filed hours of 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Saturday and 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday. Its website wasn't working when we checked, so call ahead before visiting.

Which Syracuse dispensary is open latest?

VedaLeaf's website lists hours to midnight Monday through Saturday at its Erie Boulevard East store, though other listings show shorter hours. Diamond Tree lists 10 p.m. daily, and Flynnstoned's flagship closes at 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

What was the first legal dispensary upstate?

Just Breathe at 75 Court St. in Binghamton opened Feb. 10, 2023, as the first licensed adult-use dispensary outside New York City and the third in the state.

Are there dispensaries near Cornell or Ithaca College?

Ithaca has seven operational licensed shops in the state dataset. William Jane is on the Commons downtown and The Highly Connected is on Franklin Street. Dryden Dispensary is east of town on Dryden Road and says it has a drive-thru window for prepaid orders.

What do I need to buy cannabis upstate?

A valid government-issued photo ID showing you're 21 or older. Most shops take cash and debit; some, like VedaLeaf, also accept bank transfer. Don't drive while impaired.

About this guide: an original, educational explainer from the High Today newsroom. It is general information for adults 21+ — not legal, medical, or financial advice. Cannabis laws and products change, so verify current details before you rely on them, and compare deals and licensed dispensaries on High Today.