What there is to know
- New York is doubling the number of licenses to open cannabis dispensaries across the state.
- The Cannabis Control Commission and Office of Cannabis Management have announced that they will increase the number of conditional retail dispensary licenses for adults from 150 to 300 licenses.
- The announcement will allow for the growth of the state’s Seeding Opportunity initiative, which allows these businesses to be operated by people impacted by cannabis prohibition and by nonprofit organizations aimed at supporting those previously incarcerated.
NEW YORK — New York is doubling the number of licenses to open cannabis dispensaries across the state.
The Cannabis Control Commission and Office of Cannabis Management have announced that they will increase the number of conditional retail dispensary licenses for adults from 150 to 300 licenses.
“Through this expansion, more entrepreneurs will be able to participate in the first wave of this industry, allowing them to capitalize on the growing demand for cannabis products,” said Tremaine Wright, Chairman of the Cannabis Control Board.
The announcement will allow for the growth of the state’s Seeding Opportunity initiative, which allows these businesses to be operated by people impacted by cannabis prohibition and by nonprofit organizations aimed at supporting those previously incarcerated.
The New York State Marijuana Tax and Regulation Act of 2021 (or MRTA) aims to create a fair market that helps overcome the impacts of disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition, by granting priority to these licenses for people convicted of cannabis.
The Office of Cannabis Management (or OCM for its acronym in English) received approximately 900 applications for CAURD licenses. To date, the Cannabis Control Board has issued 66 provisional CAURD licenses.
This licensing effort was bolstered by the creation of the $200 million New York State Social Equity Cannabis Fund, a public-private partnership that provides renovated retail space to the first 150 licensees, the first effort of this type in the country designed to help break down barriers.
License extensions are:
| Region | Number of previous locations | New number of slots |
| brooklyn | 19 | 38 |
| Capital | 7 | 14 |
| Central | 7 | 14 |
| Finger Lakes | 9 | 18 |
| Long Island | 20 | 40 |
| manhattan | 22 | 44 |
| Mid Hudson | 17 | 34 |
| Mohawk Valley | 2 | 4 |
| Northern country | 4 | 8 |
| queens | 16 | 32 |
| richmond | 3 | 6 |
| South level | 3 | 6 |
| The Bronx | ten | 20 |
| Western New York | 11 | 22 |
| Total | 150 | 300 |