Running a small business in Buffalo — especially in a neighborhood as vibrant and tight-knit as Elmwood Village — means you’re not just showing up for your own success. You’re showing up for the people around you. From the beginning, that’s been part of Canterra’s mission: to be a good neighbor, a responsible local partner, and a real part of the community fabric.
We love this city. We walk these sidewalks every day. So our commitment to community is more than just a bullet point — it’s part of how we make decisions, use our space, and define our values.
Below is an overview of how we meet the NYS OCM dispensary requirements related to community and social responsibility.
1. Economic Empowerment & Workforce Development
We hire local. Our team is made up of individuals who live in Buffalo, many from communities historically impacted by cannabis prohibition. We prioritize inclusive hiring practices and provide job training, mentorship, and promotion pathways within our organization.
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A portion of our staff identify as justice-involved or from communities disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs.
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All employees receive paid onboarding and ongoing cannabis education.
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We work with workforce development organizations to offer resume workshops, host informational sessions, and connect local talent to job opportunities.
2. Support for Local Nonprofits & Grassroots Organizations
Every month, we donate a portion of profits to local charities and nonprofit organizations. We focus on grassroots groups that directly serve Buffalo’s neighborhoods through food access, housing support, harm reduction, and youth development.
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Donations are distributed monthly, with documentation provided to the OCM when required.
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We prioritize community organizations , especially those led by BIPOC or LGBTQ+ community members.
3. Public Health and Education Initiatives
We provide accurate, accessible cannabis education to all customers, both in-store and online. Our goal is to promote safe, informed, and responsible consumption while reducing stigma.
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In-store staff are trained to discuss dosing, product types, interactions, and potential risks.
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We partner with local educators and harm reduction professionals to host workshops on cannabis use, impairment, and wellness.
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We distribute state-approved literature and digital resources related to health and cannabis use.
4. Community Beautification and Environmental Stewardship
We maintain and beautify public planters and green space along Elmwood Avenue outside our storefront. We also support several community gardens across Buffalo, helping provide access to fresh food and educational growing spaces.
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Staff volunteer regularly at these gardens and clean-up events.
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We offer compostable packaging options and minimize waste in our dispensary operations.
5. Food Security and Access
At our community events and markets, we regularly distribute free meals or clothes when available — no forms, no questions, just food for anyone who needs it.
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This program is privately funded and operated in partnership with local food vendors and nonprofits.
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We aim to offer at least one free food distribution per month during events or outreach programming.
6. Free Retail Space for Local Artisans and Entrepreneurs
We provide free vending space to local creators, artists, and micro-businesses inside Dreamhouse by Canterra, our adjacent event and community space. There are no fees, no commissions, and no retail markups.
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Our marketplace model allows small vendors to test and grow their businesses without overhead.
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We feature new vendors at each event and promote them through our social media and customer communications.
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Many of these vendors come from historically underrepresented or justice-involved communities.
7. Partnership with Local Organizations
We are proud partners of the Elmwood Village Association and support their neighborhood programming, beautification initiatives, small business advocacy, and event planning efforts.
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We participate in and sponsor local events including street festivals, community cleanups, and seasonal celebrations.
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We maintain a regular presence at association meetings and contribute financially and logistically to shared projects.
8. Ongoing Community Engagement and Feedback
We listen. Feedback from our neighbors, customers, and community members shapes everything from our store layout to our events. We’re always looking for ways to deepen our connection with the community and use our space to support the people who live and work around us.
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We host quarterly open-house events where community members can meet our team, ask questions, and suggest new programs.
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We maintain a public suggestion box and monitor email/social channels for community input.
Our Promise
We’re not perfect — but we’re present. And we’re committed. Our social impact plan isn’t just a regulatory requirement. It’s a reflection of our values and our desire to give back to the community that made us.
If you have a cause we should support, a project we should know about, or a way we can do more — we want to hear from you.
—The Canterra Team