Olive, 47, was on a break outside the dispensary when a man on an e-bike parked, approached, and opened fire without saying a word, Gordon said. "It is an incredible miracle he's alive," she said.

Now, there are 28 legal dispensaries in Western New York, and that number is expected to multiply at a much faster clip in the coming year. “They’re coming,” said Aaron Van Camp, Dank owner.

The additional dispensaries are permitted by the initiative approved by voters in November 2023. The Division of Cannabis Control is processing applications for new dispensaries. The 10(B ...