"Never in my wildest dreams did I think a cannabis conviction, that until now has created a barrier to jobs, housing and acceptance, would be the key to this door of opportunity for myself and my family," said Christopher Lucien, Co-Founder and COO of the newly opened cannabis dispensary, Bliss + Lex. “I’ve always been driven to support the underdog in my work in nonprofits serving the homeless, and becoming a business owner is an invigorating way to help my community.”

Nicole and Christopher Lucien opened Bliss + Lex, one of the first dispensaries in Manhattan's Upper East Side, at East 86th Street and Lexington Avenue. It is Manhattan’s first black-woman-owned dispensary and Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licensee. Nicole and Christopher have worked immensely hard to get this dispensary from ideation to storefront. The barriers to entry have been high and finding real estate was difficult, but Nicole and Christopher did not stop working toward their goal. They are examples of how New York State has gotten this program right in a lot of ways.

The 2,600-square-foot retail store aims to provide highly individualized consumer experiences ranging from on-the-go ordering to inclusive, step-by-step, walk-through education. Bliss + Lex will carry a range of cannabis products from brands such as Off Hours, 1906, TYSON 2.0, and more. You can visit the retail store located at 128 East 86th St., with close subway access, open seven days a week. For operating hours and more info, visit blissandlex.com.