Canna Planet, a legal cannabis dispensary, has opened in Ellenville, after a close call with paperwork that almost delayed them.

The premises conform to every aspect of the New York law governing legal cannabis. The windows are darkened and there are no large flashing signs. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted. But once shown your ID and been let inside, Canna Planet is a fine store.

The store gleams. Everything is as clean as can be, and the products are in bright colorful packages. There are edibles, tinctures, and a row of “flower” products, where customers can buy different varieties of cannabis flowers. And, in case you need one, they have a wild variety of interesting looking pipes. Knowledgeable staff are on hand if you need any advice or guidance.

The issues that delayed the opening to this past weekend, were down to liability insurance. Cannabis is legal in New York but its status with the federal government is murky at best, so the Village of Ellenville needed to see evidence that all potential liability from the sale of legal cannabis in the village was assumed by the store. The cash-strapped village didn’t want to risk any possibility of a lawsuit.

One interesting aspect of Canna Planet is how much local product is on view. Local growers are finally getting shops that can retail their crops. After a botched statewide rollout by the Office of Cannabis Management, restraints on growers are easing at last. The number of shops is growing steadily, too.

The complex legal situation continues in payment method, as you can only pay cash or debit, because of the refusal of credit card companies to allow cannabis purchases. Prices are just a wee bit higher than the illegal market, or so I’m told.

On an early Sunday afternoon, the store was doing a steady business, with cars coming and going from the parking area in the little strip mall by the discount beer outlet on the north side of Main Street. Your correspondent did not detect the slightest hint of the familiar odor of marijuana nor did he see any erratic or dangerous driving. A sign of the times, Canna Planet has opened.