Additionally, the collective couple also have a soft-spot in their hearts for military veterans – all for a very good reason.

The Lucianos officially opened the Bob Natural Cannabis Dispensary storefront on Thursday at 1067 E. Second St.

Bob Luciano, after returning from the Vietnam War, where he served as a U.S. Army infantryman, had a host of medical related, service-connected health issues. While working as a U.S. postal carrier in the Bronx, Luciano began to utilize the knowledge he gained while serving overseas regarding medical cannabis usage.

“When we came back from ‘Nam’ a lot of us were messed up -mentally and emotionally,” he said. “The VA (Veterans Administration) just wanted to load us up on pills – treating the symptoms and not the problems. That’s when I decided to start using marijuana to treat PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and other injuries. And you know what? It worked. It worked wonders for me.”

From left, Sidney Barrett, a soon-to-be cannabis store franchise owner in Buffalo and Bob Luciano, co-owner and proprietor of Bob Natural Cannabis are pictured Thursday morning, at the 1067 E. Second St. storefront location. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

Wanting to share the benefits with other veterans is part of the reason the couple opened their dispensary in Jamestown, which is Mrs. Luciano’s hometown.

“I was born in Jamestown and graduated from Jamestown High School, class of 1982,” she said. “Bob is the face of our company and our link to the veterans’ community.”

The married couple of 30 years, recently moved back to Jamestown after working in the cannabis industry for years in California.

“This is an opportunity,” said Anna. “With New York making marijuana legal … now seemed like the perfect time to open a shop and work on giving back to our community, and local-area veterans.”

However, according to the Lucianos, their marijuana is a cut apart from not only their competition but is a medicinal, clean narcotic.

“Our product is New York state-tested, organic, clean, viable and something we can brag about,” Mrs. Luciano said. “We pride ourselves on not only cultivating the most natural and clean product, but by giving back to our community as well.”

Luciano was in agreement with his wife.

“People are always talking about healthcare and pharmaceuticals – big business,” he said. “The best way to combat crime and drug abuse is to provide good paying jobs and opportunities. We pay a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s labor.”

According to newyorkstatecannabis.org, marijuana is legal in NYS for medical usage because of the Compassionate Cares Act, which went into effect in 2016, and for recreational usage under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), which went into effect in 2021. Although adult-use marijuana is now legal in New York and 18 U.S. states, it is still prohibited at the federal level. In 2018, the US Farm Bill legalized use and cultivation of low-THC cannabis, also known as hemp. A year later, the U.S. House of Representatives presented the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act in a bid to legalize recreational and medical marijuana. The 2019 MORE Act was passed by the House in 2020 but failed to gain approval from the Senate.

The Lucianos are not alone or going at his endeavor completely solo. Instead, the Lucianos have chosen a teamwork forum for the launch of their newest establishment.

“I’m from Attica,” said Sidney Barrett, a soon to be marijuana store dispensary owner in Buffalo. “But I’m here to help the Lucianos get their store open and ready for business.

For more information visit bobnatural.com.