In a powerful moment for New York’s cannabis scene, BackPack Boyz officially opened its first East Coast location in Mastic, Long Island—marking the iconic California brand’s expansion into new territory with a deeper cultural purpose.
Founder Juan Quesada was front and center for the store's launch, hosted in partnership with members of the Shinnecock Nation on tribal land. For Quesada, this wasn’t just another milestone in the brand’s rapid growth. It was personal.
“One of the main reasons why I’m as excited as I am—well, don’t get me wrong, it is cool to open the store in New York, to be the first California brand to open up like this,” Quesada said. “But what’s cooler is I know the situation that it’s helping. I know it’s helping this land, it’s helping this group of people, it’s helping this family… it goes a little deeper than some of the other ones for me.”
Located on Shinnecock land, the Mastic dispensary embodies a rare fusion of heritage, entrepreneurship, and authenticity. As Quesada put it, “This is like, to a degree, it’s like a mom-and-pop. For real, for real.”
The collaboration was made possible thanks to the welcoming spirit of the Shinnecock community. Quesada shared a moment of genuine emotion about being embraced by the tribe:
“The Uck tribe has been helpful. You see, they accepted me today—I didn’t even have to get jumped in neither,” he joked. “They say they don’t make these for nobody, so that was cool. I’m honored. I’m honored that they did this one.”
Beyond the celebration, the BackPackBoyz founder brought the same meticulous quality control that made the brand a legend in California. “I was QCing that motherfucker before it even got here,” he laughed. “Everything on that shelf, bro. I’m really happy about. I’m really proud of. I think anyone who comes in there and is grabbing anything from there, they’re going to have the experience they’re looking for.”
This isn’t just a business move—it’s a cultural statement. BackPack Boyz Mastic sets a precedent for how legacy brands can build respectfully and collaboratively with Indigenous communities. It’s a new chapter in East Coast cannabis, written in the spirit of quality, connection, and mutual respect.
Stay tuned for upcoming features on the Long Island team, their product lineup, and how this historic partnership is changing the game for tribal cannabis nationwide
