A hotpot shop in upscale Southampton is set to open this week after facing extensive legal challenges and red tape. Local authorities had tried to close it down.
Brown Buddha, a dispensary that was among the first licensed in the state and one of the earliest in Long Island in 2022, plans to open on Wednesday. This is happening even without the final go-ahead from Southampton, as state regulators deemed the town’s restrictive marijuana regulations illegal.
“We’re quite certain that the law is on our side,” stated Brown Buddha’s attorney, Christian Killoran.
Marquis Hayes, the founder and CEO, has likened the shop’s offerings to the highest culinary standards found in Michelin-starred restaurants. He mentioned, “On November 12, we’ll roll out the green carpet with top-quality cannabis that truly respects the plant.”
According to Killoran, they successfully navigated the state inspection late last month and received authorization from the New York Bureau of Cannabis Control to begin selling adult-use cannabis products.
However, Southampton officials assert that the dispensary still lacks the necessary local license. If it opens without one, it could face legal repercussions and potentially end up back in court.
In September, the city granted a special use permit to Brown Buddha, allowing it to operate. But this came with a requirement to construct a sidewalk in front of the property—an added expense that the dispensary’s legal team termed “unnecessary” and “punitive.”
Killoran accused Southampton of manipulating local zoning laws to create obstacles for state-licensed businesses, costing them millions.
In October, the state’s Cannabis Control Commission invalidated Southampton’s local regulations concerning cannabis, siding with Brown Buddha. They labeled the town’s rules as “unreasonably unenforceable” and illegal according to state legislation.
This unanimous ruling, which Killoran described as a significant rebuke of local authorities, aimed to prevent legal cannabis from being available in Southampton.
After the ruling, Brown Buddha began curbside pickup but is now planning to open its doors fully to walk-in customers.
In correspondence with the town, Killoran expressed his repeated requests for officials to remove the special use permit requirement, saying that Southampton has “unfairly” taken advantage of permitting laws, which has cost the business significantly while forcing them to maneuver around local resistance.
Town Attorney James Burke warned that if the dispensary goes ahead with its plans to open without the necessary permits, the city may have to take legal action against it.
