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 Net
If the origin story is about control, the day-to-day reality is about navigating a system that wasn’t built with tribal operators in mind.
“It was pretty interesting, going directly into the cannabis space,” Wright said. “It was a little bit jarring.”
The friction showed up immediately in product access. Unlike dispensaries operating strictly under New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), Little Beach Harvest couldn’t just stock whatever it wanted.
“We weren’t able to purchase the same kind of products that, say, an OCM-brand would,” he said.
At one point, Wright said, brands carried by the store were forced to pull their products.
“We did have some NY brands in there that were asked to be removed… by the OCM.”
That kind of pressure could stall a business. Instead, it forced a pivot.
“We had to become self-efficient and self-reliant on our products,” Wright said.
That meant building inward—supporting tribal entrepreneurs—and outward, through relationships with other Indigenous operators. Wright described a network of inter-tribal trade that now helps keep shelves stocked and quality consistent.
“It’s a lot of relying on our brothers and sisters… our nations that already have a finger on the pulse,” he said.
That ecosystem is quietly becoming one of Little Beach Harvest’s biggest advantages. While the broader New York market struggles with supply chain gaps, tribal collaboration is filling in the blanks.
A Dispensary That Doesn’t Feel Like One
The Hamptons aren’t exactly hurting for retail. But Wright isn’t interested in being just another stop.
“We are also a retail destination area,” he said. “People like to travel out to [the Hamptons]… our population grows by at least 80% … when the spring-summertime comes.”
That seasonal influx brings a different kind of customer—tourists from across the country, many of them coming from states with limited or no legal access. “They come from Canada… California… Texas… Florida,” Wright said. “Some of these places… they don’t have recreational cannabis.”
But what really sets Little Beach Harvest apart isn’t just location—it’s what happens after the purchase.
“We allow the open space for these people… to be free of their usual worries,” Wright said. “Not have to hide somewhere in their car.”
For all the talk about legalization, a lot of cannabis consumption still happens in the shadows. Wright is trying to flip that.
“We’re giving them a space where… they can come together,” he said. “It’s important to kind of be in the same safe space, regardless of who you are or what you look like.”
Jay Wright’s Plan: Make It a Cultural Hub
If you think Little Beach Harvest stops at retail, Wright will correct you quickly.
“I want you to have fun,” he said. “I want you to be interactive… do something.”
His vision for the space reads more like a community center than a dispensary. Game nights. Art shows. Health education events. Outdoor lounges. Heated patios. Movie nights that run into the colder months.
“We’re gonna have Magic being played, D&D being played,” he said. “Tekken, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat… all those kinds of things.”
There’s intention behind that programming. Wright is actively pushing back against outdated stereotypes about cannabis users. “We gotta break that stigma of all potheads just sit down and just smoke weed and don’t do anything,” he said. “That’s not the case.”
Instead, he’s building an environment where cannabis is part of a broader social experience—one that blends creativity, education, and connection.
“Giving them an experience,” he said. “Not just come in here and smoke a joint and leave.”
The Bigger Picture
Underneath the events, the retail strategy, and the steady expansion is something bigger.
“We’re trying to take our people out of poverty, and we’re trying to build businesses for ourselves,” Wright said. That’s the throughline. Real infrastructure.
For Wright, cannabis isn’t the end goal but a vehicle.
“It’s not just a cash grab for us,” he said. “It’s about building… It’s about a community.”
Little Beach Harvest isn’t trying to fit neatly into New York’s cannabis playbook. It’s writing its own.
Through tribal regulation, inter-tribal trade, and a clear focus on community, the Shinnecock Nation is carving out a space that feels both grounded and forward-looking. Wright’s approach—equal parts operator and cultural architect—pushes the idea of what a dispensary can be.
And if he pulls it off, Little Beach Harvest won’t just be a stop out east. It’ll be a model.
All photos courtesy of Little Beach Harvest.
Sponsored Content Disclosure: This article was produced in partnership with Little Beach Harvest. While High Times maintains editorial standards, this content reflects a paid collaboration.
