TRENDS Is New York City’s Largest Dispensary Featuring An Events Space And Local Cannabis-Inspired Art
Rodney and Brandon Carter, respected for their careers in health and tech, are starting a new trend in Queens, balancing inner-peace with the demands of running a successful business.
(left to right, Rodney Carter Sr. and TRENDS co-owners Rodney Carter Jr. and Brandon Carter)
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MarketWatch, Time Out New York, NY Business Journal
(New York, NY)- TRENDS, a family-owned business, is poised to become a cornerstone of the Queens community this spring. Awarded the 100th Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license last April by New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), TRENDS is the latest venture for brothers Rodney Carter Jr., owner of ‘Hurricane Fitness’, and Brandon Carter, a business strategist and web developer. Officially opening on 7/10 National Dab Day (710 is OIL upside down), the TRENDS brothers are excited to provide a safe space for NYC cannabis enthusiasts to come and experience culture, wellness, and community.
“Cannabis has been used as plant medicine for centuries, part of many cultures worldwide,” says Rodney Carter Jr., TRENDS CEO. “Our mission is to highlight the global history of the plant and challenge its stereotypes. By visiting our store, customers will have the chance to see marijuana through a new lens while connecting with others.”
When the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) was signed in 2021, cannabis enthusiasts across the country were excited to see that NYS lawmakers were prioritizing victims who were negatively impacted by the War on Drugs. TRENDS is dedicated to fostering an environment of inclusivity and education to push back against the lingering stigma and misinformation surrounding cannabis. The new company is striving to empower individuals to engage in open and constructive conversations about cannabis and its potential benefits.
“TRENDS stands for ‘The Real Experience Needs Different Stories’. We want our community members to feel comfortable sharing their stories,” says Brandon Carter, TRENDS COO. “Our podcast ‘TRENDS and Friends’ will educate listeners on how to find balance in their lives and will feature guests like other CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) retailers, cannabis advocates, as well as experts in the fields of wellness, spirituality, and business.”
Nestled in Long Island City Queens, the trendy new location spans an impressive 6,000 sq. ft. and will also feature an events space as well as 10’ installations titled “Trending Through Time”, highlighting the history of cannabis. Featuring artwork by Spanish illustrator and visual artist Juan Astasio Soriano and TRENDS creative director and photographer Monica Vie, it’s where cannabis meets education and art. Beyond a traditional dispensary, the Carter brothers are creating a space that will also serve as a dynamic hub for community gatherings, musical events, and educational workshops.
As the grand opening on 7/10 quickly approaches, Rodney and Brandon are eager to welcome visitors to TRENDS, where they’ll experience a unique blend of wellness, community, culture, and education.
TRENDS is located at 27-25 44th Drive, Long Island City, NY 11101.
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About TRENDS
Almost 30 years after their father, Rodney Carter Sr., was convicted of marijuana possession, the TRENDS brothers, Rodney and Brandon Carter, are rewriting history as CAURD’s 100th licensed retailer. Their store, TRENDS, is the largest cannabis dispensary currently in New York City.
Watching their father navigate addiction and the gritty streets of Harlem and Queens, showed the Carter Brothers the importance of resilience. And though the brothers chose two different routes in life, each one took the lessons their father taught them and used them to take care of their families, enrich their lives, and build successful businesses. When New York’s Cannabis Control Board and the Office of Cannabis Management announced that 300 CAURD retail licenses were reserved for individuals negatively impacted by the War on Drugs, they knew this was their chance to build generational wealth and show their father his hard work is paying off.
Growing up between Hollis (known to some as “Homicide” Hollis) and South Jamaica Queens, the brothers began flexing their entrepreneurial muscles when Rodney was eight years-old and Brandon was six. They started off selling raffle tickets to basketball games on 72nd street. In their teenage years, they took their talents to Madison Square Garden where they sold circus lights.
Rodney, the oldest of the duo, went down a dark path, choosing to hustle through the streets until he found his way to boxing. In the ring, he rediscovered his passion for fitness, using the sport to improve his life and mental health. After working as a personal trainer, Rodney opened his fitness business, Hurricane Fitness, which provides health and wellness services to those seeking to build strength through adversity. As CEO of TRENDS, Rodney brings with him over 30 years of entrepreneurial expertise.
Brandon chose to pursue a formal education. When their mother lost her battle to cancer, Brandon was inspired to change the narrative about Black people working in tech, especially for the next generation coming up in Queens. Watching his brother and father remain determined, even while dealing with their mothers death, encouraged Brandon to work hard and earn his degree in Web Development. Brandon’s vision as COO is to expand TRENDS business model to include delivery services, consumption lounges, a fashionable lifestyle brand, and a podcast that shares the diversity of the cannabis plant and its consumers.
Ultimately, Rodney and Brandon created TRENDS as a way to share their story and their world. From their point-of-view, everyone who walks into TRENDS is family. They know that staying connected to family, especially as our world rapidly changes, requires vulnerability and willingness. As pioneers in the New York cannabis industry, the brothers are committed to fostering inclusivity, education, and empowerment within their community, paving the way for a brighter and more equitable future.
Media Contact
Company Name: Trends
Contact Person: Rodney “Hurricane” Carter Jr
Email: rodney@trendslic.com
Address: 27-25 44th Drive Long Island City, NY 11101
City: Long Island City
State: New York
Country: United States
Website: www.trendslic.com
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Vedh Consulting journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
