New York legalized cannabis with an explicit promise: to put ownership in the hands of people from the communities most harmed by prohibition. Good Grades, a Black-owned, community-minded dispensary in Jamaica, Queens, is one of the clearest examples of that promise made real. As a CAURD licensee with deep local ties, it's both a neighborhood shop and a symbol of what equity-first legalization is supposed to look like.

Built on community and education

Good Grades has earned its reputation by being more than a place to buy cannabis. Its community-minded, education-forward approach reflects a belief that a dispensary can be a positive force in its neighborhood — welcoming newcomers, demystifying products, and treating customers as members of a community rather than transactions. In Jamaica, one of Queens' largest and most diverse neighborhoods, that local rootedness matters enormously.

The name itself nods to aspiration and self-improvement, and the shop's posture follows suit: approachable, informative, and genuinely invested in the people it serves.

Equity in practice

As a Black-owned CAURD dispensary, Good Grades sits at the center of New York's social-equity vision. The Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program was created specifically to give ownership opportunities to individuals from communities disproportionately affected by cannabis enforcement — and operators like Good Grades are how that policy turns into real businesses, real jobs, and real ownership. Supporting it means supporting the equity goals that made New York's market distinctive.

That mission gives the shop a meaning beyond commerce, and it's a big reason it resonates with shoppers who care about where their dollars go.

Who it's best for

  • Queens locals, especially around Jamaica, who want a welcoming neighborhood dispensary.
  • Equity-minded shoppers who want to support Black-owned, mission-driven businesses.
  • Newcomers who value an education-forward, approachable experience.

As always, compare before buying. Check the day's cannabis deals and other licensed dispensaries on High Today to make sure you're getting good value.

The bottom line

Good Grades is the embodiment of New York's equity-first promise: a Black-owned, community-minded dispensary that serves its Queens neighborhood with education and care. For Jamaica locals and for anyone who wants their cannabis spending to support the ownership opportunities legalization was meant to create, it's a meaningful and easy choice. Compare prices on bigger purchases, and feel good about where your money goes.