Out in Southampton, where Range Rovers and summer rentals usually dominate the conversation, there’s a different kind of destination taking shape.
Little Beach Harvest isn’t just another New York dispensary trying to survive a messy recreational rollout. It’s a tribally owned operation on Shinnecock territory, built with a clear purpose: create economic independence, build community, and give cannabis a space to actually live.
When I caught up with Jay Randolph Wright, the store manager and a Shinnecock citizen, he made it clear from the jump that his role is to honor the Shinnecock Nation and help create an enduring cannabis legacy.
From Skepticism to Sovereignty
When I asked how cannabis first entered the conversation for the Shinnecock Nation, Wright didn’t sugarcoat it.
“The tribe itself, when it was first introduced, was very skeptical about introducing cannabis onto the territory,” he said.
That hesitation wasn’t just cultural—it was strategic. Early discussions were rooted in medical use, not retail hype. Wright explained that the shift toward adult-use came later, once New York legalized and the opportunity widened.
“It went all through a voting system throughout the nation,” he said. “Everyone from the tribe had to be a part of it, and in agreement with it.”
That process matters. In an industry where outside capital often dictates direction, Little Beach Harvest was built internally, through consensus, education, and a long runway of planning. Wright traces the project back nearly a decade, with multiple false starts, shifting partners, and moments where outside backing disappeared.
“We ended up running it ourselves… through the tribe and through the nation,” he said.
That pivot—from outside reliance to internal control—is the backbone of Little Beach Harvest. Opening their doors to the public was sovereignty in action.
Building Without a Safety …
Read More
Author: Kyle Rosner / High Times
