Farmer’s Choice Dispensary was never meant to be just another place to buy cannabis. From the beginning, partners George Vlamis, Sharif and AJ Jamal imagined a destination: a retail experience built around curiosity and a sense of discovery. That philosophy has guided the success of their Fishkill location—and now it’s shaping their much-anticipated and now open second outpost in New Paltz.
The Fishkill dispensary established Farmer’s Choice as a standout by treating cannabis retail less like a transaction and more like an experience. Vlamis and the Jamals leaned into the familiar rhythms of the Hudson Valley—farm markets, local growers, approachable design—to strip away stigma and replace it with something inviting and fun. That mindset also informs the store’s massive product selection, now among the largest menus in the region, balancing well-known brands with carefully chosen offerings from micro growers and smaller producers.
As the New York cannabis market grows more crowded, Farmer’s Choice has doubled down on curation. Products don’t just land on the shelves; they’re evaluated, tested, and discussed by a highly trained staff whose role is as much guide as salesperson. Customers range from longtime enthusiasts to people returning to cannabis after decades away, and the experience is built to meet all of them where they are.
The New Paltz location expands that vision dramatically. Located just off Route 299 near the Thruway, the 5,000-square-foot building features a 3,000-square-foot retail floor—making it one of the largest dispensaries in the Hudson Valley. The extra space allows the Farmer’s Choice team to fully lean into what excites them most: scale, playfulness, and surprise. There are layered farm-market elements, familiar characters from the Fishkill store, and plenty of room to explore. The goal is simple: Create an experience memorable enough that people want to return—and tell others about it.
For George, Sharif, and AJ, New Paltz also represents a homecoming. They grew up there, working behind retail counters long before cannabis was legal, and the town was always part of the long-term plan.
Looking ahead, Farmer’s Choice aims to be known not just as a retailer, but as the most engaging cannabis experience in the region: a place that makes cannabis approachable, community-oriented, and genuinely fun. It’s a dispensary like no other—and one worth the trip.
Farmer’s Choice Dispensary
18 Westage Drive Suite 7, Fishkill
1 Old Route 299, New Paltz
This article appears in July 2026.
