{"id":34308,"date":"2022-10-21T12:39:58","date_gmt":"2022-10-21T18:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/couples-foster-cannabis-culture-in-farmington-and-aztec\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T08:17:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:17:22","slug":"couples-foster-cannabis-culture-in-farmington-and-aztec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/couples-foster-cannabis-culture-in-farmington-and-aztec\/","title":{"rendered":"Couples foster cannabis culture in Farmington and Aztec"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Doug
Doug Taylor, manager at Grady\u2019s Cannabis, at 111 N. Main St. in Aztec, and Amanda Hatch assist customers Oct. 1. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Jennifer and Jonathan Grady and Gregory and Lena Hill are deeply invested and committed to the cannabis business. The Gradys grow cannabis at their Bloomfield farm and operate Grady\u2019s Cannabis retail store in Aztec.<\/p>\n

The Hills ventured into new business territory after Greg Hill\u2019s employment in the mining industry abruptly ended after 14 years. With the legalization of cannabis in New Mexico, June 29, 2021, they saw cannabis as the most promising and lucrative direction to go.<\/p>\n

They love the historical, downtown Farmington location they chose for their retail store, The Alchemist, at 115 W. Main St.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was told it was originally a pharmacy,\u201d Hill said. So for him, it\u2019s going full circle, to The Alchemist. Nostalgic energy permeates the open, airy space, which he believes is \u201cthe best-looking shop in town,\u201d with \u201cits turn-of-the-century vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sales of recreational cannabis and medical marijuana have consistently risen in recent months. According to the N.M. Cannabis Control Division website<\/a>, Farmington had $192,284.23 in medical sales and $608,371.07 in recreational sales for a total of $800,655 in October 2022., a significant increase from the $666,135 mark in April 2022.<\/p>\n

Forty-one medical marijuana\/recreational cannabis outlets are listed in San Juan County, according to the Medical Marijuana Dispensaries website.<\/a> Within Farmington city limits, 12 retailers are registered to sell recreational cannabis products, which include cannabis flower buds, prerolled flowers, gummies, CBD oil and accessories.<\/p>\n

Bloomfield has issued four cannabis licenses for growing and cultivation, and has two applications for retail dispensaries that have yet to be approved, according to Bloomfield City Clerk Crystal Martinez Hornberger. The town of Kirtland has one shop in city limits, which is working to open soon.<\/p>\n

\"Jennifer
Jennifer Grady and her husband, Jonathan Grady, owners of GCI Farming and Grady\u2019s Greenhouse, harvest pumpkins Oct. 1 at their organic farm southeast of Bloomfield.<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Jennifer Grady, and husband, Jonathan, opened Grady\u2019s Cannabis, at 111 N. Main Ave. in Aztec, on June 6, 2022. After years of growing chili, blue corn, pumpkins and other produce on their 280-acre USDA-certified organic farm in Bloomfield, they saw profits with cannabis. Understanding the unpredictability of the retail business, the Gradys still envision steady growth for their new venture.<\/p>\n

\"Tory
Tory Shane, farm manager at GCI Farming and Grady\u2019s Greenhouse, harvests sativa marijuana plant Oct. 1 at the farm southeast of Bloomfield.<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Grady\u2019s
Grady\u2019s Cannabis, at 111 N. Main Ave. in Aztec, is owned by Jennifer and Jonathan Grady. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Grady\u2019s
Grady\u2019s Cannabis, at 111 N. Main Ave. in Aztec, was opened by Jennifer and Jonathan Grady. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Grady\u2019s
Grady\u2019s Cannabis, at 111 N. Main Ave. in Aztec. A 1951 Chevy truck is a centerpiece.<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jennifer
Jennifer Grady, co-owner of GCI Farming and Grady\u2019s Greenhouse, checks on the farm\u2019s organic blue corn at her farm southeast of Bloomfield. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jennifer
Jennifer Grady, co-owner of GCI Farming and Gradys Greenhouse, checks on the organic blue corn at the farm southeast of Bloomfield. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jennifer
Jennifer and Jonathan Grady\u2019s organic GCI Farming and Grady\u2019s Greenhouse operation southeast of Bloomfield. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>Jerry McBride<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Their primary product is cannabis flower \u2013 indica hybrid strain \u2013 along with prerolled cannabis and gummies. The price per gram, $11 to $18, is based on THC potency, typically ranging from 15% to 25%. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana\u2019s psychological effects, as it acts It acts much like the cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body, according to National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cCannabis\u201d refers to all products derived from the plant Cannabis sativa, while the plant contains about 540 chemical substances. Indica is the more relaxing strain, while sativa stimulates the senses, as stated on NIDA website.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Gradys try to buy flowers with a THC range of 18% to 25% for the store.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we get a grower that cures really well \u2026 like big, heavy buds \u2026 when they look like that we can charge more,\u201d Jennifer Grady said. \u201cSince this is harvest time, there is an abundance of product and variety available.\u201d<\/p>\n

Combined, the Gradys have more than 50 years of practical contact with farming and growing. They got into the business \u201cwanting to do something new and different with their large-scale agricultural experience, and aim to promote their Farmers First brand.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Grady would like to counter the social stigma attached to growing and buying cannabis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just changing the view of the dispensary. \u2026 It doesn\u2019t have the medical feel, like you\u2019re doing something wrong \u2026 that you have to go in behind closed doors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cannabis culture is changing perceptions and the Gradys\u2019 goal is to push for quality control through proper branding to identify product sources and growers. \u201cThis is an agricultural product!\u201d she asserted.<\/p>\n

Community is a priority for them, demonstrated by their donation of sweet corn to school districts. They hope to unite cannabis growers in San Juan County and statewide with a brand that recognizes Farmers First and highlights the importance of farmers and the use of practical, sustainable farming techniques.<\/p>\n

Attesting to their creative inclination, they\u2019ve placed a 1951 Chevy farm truck as a nostalgic centerpiece in their store. With deep roots in agriculture and a love for purity in products, the Gradys are optimistic about steady growth of their business.<\/p>\n

Because all product must be purchased from within the state \u2013 none can cross state lines \u2013 supply of quality product could become an issue. Hill said he\u2019s \u201cnot really\u201d concerned about the supply issue. \u201cIt\u2019s just a waiting game, is what it is \u2026 two to six weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had eight or 10 different growers come in within the last month and a half,\u201d Hill said, and all are in San Juan County.<\/p>\n

The toughest part of the business for Hill is \u201cthe fact that it\u2019s a new business.\u201d \u201cI loved my job. \u2026 it\u2019s not about the money. It\u2019s about the people I worked with \u2026 supplying affordable, clean coal to our community. That was my retirement job.\u201d He proudly displays the last two pieces of coal that he pulled out of the mine.<\/p>\n

The Hills went to Denver to purchase prominently, classic bar back cabinets, as display cases, that originated in Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

\"Antique
Antique Bar Back cabinet accents mood in The Alchemist. (David Edward Albright\/Durango Herald<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The outlook is bright for the Hills, and business is good.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur family\u2019s here, grandkids are here. Let\u2019s help build the community back up \u2026 let\u2019s revive downtown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were the first cannabis business (in Farmington) to have a red-ribbon-cutting and to be in the Chamber of Commerce,\u201d Lena Hill said, pointing to the framed licenses.<\/p>\n

Their state-issued \u201ccourier license\u201d will enable them to deliver directly to their prepaid customers. Greg expects that deliveries will be a significant portion of their business, especially during winter.<\/p>\n

Daily specials are posted on their website, thealchemistllc.com<\/a>, and Hill suggested that consumers download the leafly app from leafly.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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