Hector Bonilla, system-impacted and long-time Bronx resident, becomes thirteenth independent dispensary to open with Hub’s support

Bronx, NY – On Friday, The Bronx Defenders and The Bronx Cannabis Hub proudlycelebratedthe grand opening of Diamond Dispensary, independently owned by longtime Bronx resident Hector Bonilla. As a system-impacted individual, Hector’s story reflects the purpose of cannabis equity in New York. The ribbon cutting occurred at 455 Graham Ave in Williamsburg, with local leaders, community partners, Hub members, and supporters in attendance. 

Growing up in the South Bronx, Hector faced the long-term consequences of criminalization while working to support his family. After nearly two decades driving a taxi, he came to The Bronx Cannabis Hub, a project of The Bronx Defenders, for support when the CAURD license opened. “I knew I would not have been able to do it by myself. The Hub guided me through it all,” Hector recalls. 

Hector received one of the first retail dispensary licenses issued in the state in 2023. By August 2025, he secured the Williamsburg location for Diamond Dispensary and moved forward with preparations to open. For Hector, ownership is about stability and opportunity. “I just want something real that I can pass on to my kids.” 

“I remember meeting Hector on the day he was awarded his CAURD license. In the nearly four years since then, there hasn’t been a community meeting, training, or store opening that he has missed. Hector earned this. He is exactly who the CAURD program was created for,” said Damian Fagon, Director of The Bronx Cannabis Hub. 

The Bronx Cannabis Hub has supported 27 system-impacted entrepreneurs to date, from screening eligibility through to licensing. Diamond Dispensary is the thirteenth Hub member to open a dispensary in New York State, with more in the pipeline. The Hub provides licensing assistance, legal representation, technical support, and community education, helping New Yorkers navigate a complex and still-developing market so they can build viable businesses rooted in their communities. 

The Hub recently released a new impact report, showing how it has acted as an economic justice accelerator for the State, generating $36 in statewide benefits for every $1 invested in the Hub. 

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