Greetings New Yorkers,
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (the Office) is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and competitive market, ensuring that legal, safer, tested cannabis is readily available to adult New Yorkers over the age of 21. Since legalization, we’ve worked to ensure that New York’s cannabis market promotes health and safety, equity, and sustainability. So, we’re pleased by the new changes in the law to allow the Office to close more illicit cannabis and smoke shops more quickly, in close coordination with city and county governments, as well as other state agencies. These shops threaten New Yorkers’ health and safety, as well as the state’s equity efforts. This will be a critical as licensed entrepreneurs seek to develop innovative and authentic brands and businesses in this market.
Here are some other major updates as we continue to build out the market:
- From Seed to Sale: #NYcannabis now has 110+ Adult-Use dispensaries across the state!
- Celebrating THE BIG 1-0-0! Big Gas dispensary, a family owned and operated business located in New Paltz, is New York State’s 100th brick-and-mortar adult-use dispensary. The opening marks an expansion of access to safer, tested cannabis products for communities across the state!
- Blossoming Businesses: Over the past few months, we’ve witnessed a steady stream of new dispensary openings. Since March, #NYcannabis adult-use dispensaries from Buffalo, Rochester, Rock Hill, and the Bronx have opened their doors, bringing New York State to a total of 114 adult-use cannabis dispensaries. The many faces behind these openings are a testimony to the equity focused approach of the Office. In the #NYcannabis market:
- Nearly 40% of operational dispensaries are majority minority-owned businesses.
- In less than 3 years, New York has more than 2x the national rate of majority Black-owned dispensaries.
- Over 95% of New York’s cannabis retail market are small businesses.
- 4/20 Update: From empowering the canna-curious to featuring 600+ products to consumers, the #NYcannabis market blossomed on the 4/20 holiday. Check out some pictures.
- Cannabis Control Board (#NYCCB) April 11th Meeting Recap:
- AU Licenses Awarded: Springing into action, the #NYCCB approved 101 adult-use licenses, with 35 allocated to retail dispensaries licenses and 22 to microbusiness licenses. In 2024, the #NYCCB has granted 403 Adult-Use licenses.
- Provisional Licensing Resolution: The OCM is now authorized to grant provisional licenses intermittently between board meetings, expediting the licensing process, enabling quicker responses to applicants, and fostering a more efficient regulatory operation. Note: All final licensure must still be approved by the Cannabis Control Board.
- Link for a Lockbag: NYC residents will now be able to get information on the licensed dispensaries on their neighborhood LinkNYC kiosk. NYC residents, show us how you’re supporting #NYcannabis and snap a picture with the kiosk for a chance to win a lockbag by Thursday, May 2.
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