New York Legal Cannabis Sales Top $2.5 Billion as Retail Access Nearly Doubles in 2025
New York’s legal marijuana market has surpassed $2.5 billion in adult-use sales as of November 30, according to a newly released annual report from the New York State Cannabis Control Board and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. The report shows that as of late December 2025, 556 licensed adult-use dispensaries were operating statewide, up from 261 a year earlier, representing nearly a doubling of legal storefront access. Regulators say the expansion has strengthened access to tested products and helped shift consumers away from the illicit market. Through November, the Office of Cannabis Management processed 2,362 licenses and nearly 800 renewals across adult-use, medical marijuana, and cannabinoid hemp programs.
Equity remained a central feature of New York’s market structure in 2025. According to the report, 55% of adult-use licenses are held by Social and Economic Equity businesses, exceeding statutory goals set under the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act. Equity participation is especially pronounced in retail and microbusiness licenses, and more than half of equity licensees are women-owned, while half are minority-owned.
The state also began distributing cannabis tax revenue back into communities. In its first round of Community Grants Reinvestment Fund awards, $5 million was distributed to 50 youth-serving and community-based organizations, with more than 82% of the funding going to groups serving areas disproportionately impacted by past marijuana enforcement.
Enforcement remained a major focus, with regulators reporting more than 2,000 enforcement actions in 2025 and the seizure of over $20 million worth of illicit marijuana products. Officials say those efforts are intended to protect consumers and support licensed businesses.
On the medical side, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation modernizing the state’s medical marijuana program. As of November, New York had more than 81,500 registered medical marijuana patients and over 4,600 authorized healthcare providers, alongside 31 medical-only dispensaries and 11 co-located medical and adult-use locations statewide.
“This Annual Report reflects the market New Yorkers have built together over the past year. We expanded access to regulated, tested cannabis products, strengthened consumer protections, and continued to advance an equity-centered market framework,” said Susan Filburn, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “Surpassing $2.5 billion in adult-use sales is a major milestone, and our focus moving forward is ensuring this growth remains responsible, transparent, and grounded in public health and safety, while continuing to deliver opportunity and reinvestment to the communities most impacted by prohibition.”
“New York’s cannabis framework was designed to pair strong regulation with meaningful opportunity, and this year’s Annual Report shows continued progress toward that goal,” said Jessica Garcia, Chair of the New York State Cannabis Control Board. As the legal market expands, we remain focused on building an inclusive industry and ensuring the benefits of legalization are shared broadly. The launch of initiatives like the community reinvestment grants and the CAURD Grant Fund marks a critical step in returning resources to communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition, while maintaining the safeguards that protect consumers and support compliant businesses.”
“This year’s Annual Report shows what is possible when growth and equity move together. As New York’s legal market expands, our focus remains on ensuring that opportunity reaches the people and places most impacted by prohibition, and that reinvestment continues to be visible in communities across every region, said Simone Washington, Chief Equity Officer of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. This next year is about strengthening and sustaining our core programming, closing remaining gaps, and ensuring New Yorkers can see and feel the benefits of a well-regulated market in every corner of the state.”
“This year’s enforcement activity reflects both the scale of the Office’s work and our continued commitment to a safe and regulated cannabis market across the state,” said Daniel Haughney, Director of Enforcement and Investigations for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “The data provided in this report underscores our focus on accountability and protecting public health and safety. Strong enforcement is essential to a successful marketplace.”