{"id":854441,"date":"2026-06-09T05:53:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T05:53:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/854441\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T05:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T05:53:40","slug":"queensbridge-rapper-havoc-opens-new-cannabis-dispensary-in-astoria-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/854441\/","title":{"rendered":"Queensbridge rapper Havoc opens new cannabis dispensary in Astoria \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Havoc\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Havoc with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards at the grand opening of the Bridge in Astoria on Saturday, June 6. <\/p>\n

Photo by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

The Bridge<\/a>, a new cannabis dispensary launched by Queensbridge rapper Havoc, celebrated its grand opening in Astoria<\/a> on Saturday after a two-and-a-half-year wait.<\/p>\n

The dispensary opened its doors at 25-15 Broadway on June 6, featuring a number of live performances and appearances from elected officials.\n<\/p>\n

Havoc, whose real name Kejuan Waliek Muchita, was raised in Queensbridge Houses and formed part of the hip-hop duo Mobb Deep. He said at Saturday\u2019s grand opening that the new cannabis dispensary had been a \u201clong time coming.\u201d stating that the store takes its name from attempts to bridge the gap between cannabis and the local community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThirty years ago, you couldn\u2019t have told me that we would have been able to sell cannabis legally,\u201d Havoc said at Saturday\u2019s grand opening. \u201cWe used to be running from the cops, getting criminal records, being shut out of the conversation, and now we are bridging the gap between cannabis and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by Ramy Mahmoud<\/p>\n

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards also appeared at Saturday\u2019s grand opening, describing Havoc\u2019s ascent to dispensary owner as a \u201cspecial day.\u201d Richards said black and brown communities across the city were disproportionately impacted by cannabis or marijuana-related arrests prior to legalization in 2021, adding that black and brown communities represented 86% of all arrests.<\/p>\n

Richards said the \u201cdamage was done\u201d prior to legalization, with many people convicted of offenses unable to receive federal funding for college, among other impacts.
\n\"PhotoPhoto by Ramy Mahmoud\n<\/p>\n

The opening of a new black-owned dispensary was an opportunity to right some of those wrongs, Richards added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know what happens often when new businesses come into play. \u201d We\u2019re left out of the equation,\u201d Richards said. \u201cHavoc is representative of us not being left out of the conversation, that this bridge was not a bridge too far.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonita \u201cBo\u201d Money, a TV and film producer and cannabis activist, partnered with Havoc to create the Bridge through her organization, National Diversity and Inclusion Cannabis Alliance (NDICA<\/a>). The organization helped Havoc obtain a license from New York State.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been a long journey for us,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are just grateful for the Astoria community. Thank you for being so welcoming.\u201d
\n\"BonitaBonita \u201cBo\u201d Money with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Photo by Ramy Mahmoud\n<\/p>\n

\t