Behind the Scenes of a Saratoga Cannabis Dispensary

The entrance and inner vault of the Silver Cannabis Company’s Saratoga Springs location. Photos by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — ‘Twas the week before 4/20, when all through the dispensary,

budtenders were stirring, conducting an audit.

Although popular culture often depicts cannabis enthusiasts as lackadaisical, at the Silver Cannabis dispensary in Saratoga Springs, products are meticulously tagged, tested, and tracked. The business is subject to multiple, random state inspections each year and must always be prepared.

Silver—which has nine locations scattered across New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont—has its regional managers conduct internal audits, which can serve as practice runs for state inspections. Individual stores also have their staffers perform daily categorical audits. On April 15, one Saratoga budtender was auditing the store’s supply of edibles to ensure that the physical inventory matches the information that’s in both the store’s system and the state’s tracking system.

“Compliance and regulations can be a good thing,” Jacob LeLievre, general manager of the Spa City pot shop, told Saratoga TODAY. “Everything that we have in there is tested for pesticides. It’s tested for potency. It’s tested for residual chemicals that could come in contact with it during the process. Everything is completely clean and safe to be sold, versus something that you may choose to purchase elsewhere. You wouldn’t necessarily know where it came from or if it was completely safe to consume. I can stand by knowing that our products are safe, and that we can make the best suggestion to anyone who comes in.”

In July 2024, Silver became the first recreational dispensary to open its doors in Saratoga Springs. Since then, it’s had to redesign its space to accommodate a steady flow of customers. It also recently expanded its vault to accommodate more inventory. The physical changes are evidence of what might be obvious to anyone who drives past Silver in Saratoga or Sashies in Ballston Spa: the local cannabis business is booming.

“We never knew what to expect when we first opened, and we ended up opening up to a ton of people welcoming us into the community,” LeLievre said. “I think we exceeded expectations.”

According to New York State Cannabis Control Board data published earlier this month, dispensaries that have been open for a year are averaging about $4 million in annual sales. Top retailers can yield closer to $6 million annually, with the less profitable shops bringing in about $1.2 million. “New York’s cannabis market demonstrates resilience; most respondents are operational, adapting, and confident in their own business outlook amid broader market challenges,” states the control board’s report.

In 2025, the legal cannabis market in New York surpassed $2.5 billion in sales, according to the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. Also that year, the number of shops statewide increased from 261 to 556.

One thing that seems to be driving business, at Silver’s Saratoga location at least, is the desire for a good night’s sleep.

“A lot of people are looking for sleep options,” LeLievre said. “I’d say my favorite thing to help someone with is sleep. When someone comes in and they’re struggling to go to bed at night; that’s a fundamental part of being who you are, being able to get a good rest and get out the next day. Many people come back to get the same product again, just because they find that it works so well.” (LeLievre has a mantra for those seeking sleep aids: start low and go slow. In other words, start with a small dosage and test out various options, trial-and-error style.)

Of course, this time of year is decidedly not a sleepy one for dispensaries. April 20 (or, 4/20), considered a “high holiday” for cannabis users, is one of Silver’s busiest days of the year, up there with more traditional holidays like Christmas and local happenings like the Belmont Stakes.

“I would say the preparation for 4/20 usually starts in May because it takes a ton of time to get ready for,” LeLievre said.

Silver’s 4/20 celebrations this year include various educational opportunities where customers can learn more about products directly from vendors, and a lobster food truck from noon to 6 p.m. Those who are already fans of cannabis products are obviously welcome, but so too are those who might be skeptical of the recent legalization and proliferation of the industry across Upstate New York.

“Just come in and see us,” LeLievre said. “We can reassure you with our smiling faces and with our guidance that we’re here to help you with whatever it is that you may need help with when it comes to the cannabis realm, even if you’re nervous to step in.”