Chili, N.Y. (WHAM) — The founders of NOWAVE in Chili gave an inside look at their 32,000 square foot cannabis processing facility.

Founded in 2018 by six Greece graduates as a CBD company, NOWAVE’s products can be found in 90 percent of legal cannabis dispensaries in New York State.

“We started with a 300 square foot space behind a retail—actually vape store,” recalled Brian Lane. “(We) started perfecting our gummies, sending some out to vape stores across the country. Next thing you know, we found that we made pretty good gummies. We were self taught on all our product types, and now we’ve grown from that 300 square foot space to what we’re in right now.”

Roughly 100 people work in the Chili facility, producing hemp and CBD products, and processing cannabis into edibles, vape products, and even carbonated drinks containing THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana.

NOWAVE manufactures products for brands including Off Hours, Eaton Botanicals, and Weed Water. The company also makes one of the only vegan gummies on the market.

“We use a fruit pectin base, which is all natural ingredients,” said Lane. ” We don’t use any artificial flavors and colors. For instance, our red food coloring is made from beets. We use a lot of organic products. We make sure there’s no pesticides.”

Lane said the Rochester region is an ideal location for the business.

“We actually have a handful of processors in this area for some reason, which I really like,” said Lane. “I think it’s because there’s a good labor force here in Rochester. People are really loyal to New York and a lot of New York State brands recognize Rochester has some facilities that we can move into.”

Just last week, the state announced five million dollars from cannabis generated revenue would go to 50 youth-focused non-profits in New York, including several in Monroe County;

• HOPE585 Inc
• The Center For Youth Services Inc
• Unity Hospital Of Rochester
• Urban League Of Rochester

According to the NYS Cannabis Advisory Board, each award totals $100,000 and be awarded “for a 2-year contract period” as part of a state initiative to support reinvest in communities that were “disproportionately affected by past drug policies.”

Since legalization in 2021, the state says cannabis sales have surpassed $2B total, with more than $1B in 2025.

Monroe County is among 13 such counties across the state.

Click here to learn more about NOWAVE.

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