Our Mission
Budega NYC is a New York State registered and licensed Retail Dispensary. As a NY State licensed dispensary, Budega NYC will offer regulated, tested, and approved cannabis products. The Budega NYC Dispensary will create an elevated retail experience with premium quality cannabis products, merchandise, and accessories. The retail dispensary serves adults 21+ and will focus on cannabis lifestyle through a health and wellness lens, while also highlighting everyday New Yorkers that are cannabis advocates.
Alex Norman is a first-generation Cuban-American entrepreneur with a dynamic career spanning finance, media, and digital marketing. Raised in NYC and a Bed-Stuy resident for over 20 years, he became a New York State CAURD license holder in 2023, positioning him to lead a community-focused cannabis dispensary. His professional journey began as a financial advisor managing significant assets, followed by founding a cultural hub in Brooklyn, and later excelling in digital marketing for e-commerce startups. With deep ties to Brooklyn and a commitment to innovation, integrity, and community, Norman is poised to be a transformative leader in the cannabis industry.
Louis W. Colon III, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of Budega NYC, is a Bed-Stuy native with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of culture, commerce, and creativity. Inspired by his Puerto Rican grandparents’ entrepreneurial legacy in Brooklyn, Colon’s career highlights include founding Kicksclusive Magazine and Laces, the world’s first women’s-only sneaker boutique, as well as leadership roles at iconic brands and retailers in the Footwear and Fashion industry. With expertise in storytelling, experiential retail, and cultural marketing, Colon draws on his deep BK roots and industry knowledge to transform Budega NYC into a cannabis destination that blends innovation, community, and authentic cultural experiences.
Mental Health Outreach
Budega NYC is keenly aware that many cannabis consumers use cannabis recreationally and medically to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression. Through workshops and free consultations with affiliate mental health professionals, Budega seeks to engage customers and the community at large to help assess if cannabis is being used as a coping strategy or a form of mental health improvement.
Restorative Justice
As criminal justice reform advocates, Budega NYC believes legalization must also address the harm that New York City’s war on drugs has done to our communities, in particular communities of color who have been disproportionately targeted. To that end, Budega has engaged attorneys, legal professionals, and local elected officials to create expungement seminars to remove cannabis convictions from affected individuals. Expungements remove the obstacle created by a criminal record when seeking employment, applying for financial loans, or in pursuit of housing to name a few.
Health & Wellness
Budega founders strongly advocate all individuals to live an active lifestyle. In partnership with various health and wellness groups, Budega will organize inclusive neighborhood walks, runs, and bike rides for all levels. Physical activity helps manage your weight, reduce your risk of disease, strengthen your bones and muscles, and do everyday tasks more easily. When you are physically active, your thinking, learning, and judgment skills will remain sharp. Sleeping better and reducing depression and anxiety are also benefits.
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