New York Regulators Approve 36 New Adult-use Cannabis Licenses
- The New York State Cannabis Control Board approved 36 new adult-use cannabis licenses, including cultivator, processor, retail dispensary, and CAURD licenses, bringing the total statewide adult-use licenses to 2,110.
- New York’s cannabis market shows strong growth with $1.69 billion in retail sales reported in 2025, 582 dispensaries open statewide, and continued momentum into 2026 with 18 new stores opening so far.
- The Office of Cannabis Management is advancing the seed-to-sale tracking system and conducting a Workforce Composition Survey to improve workforce policies and market data, extending the survey deadline to February 13, 2026.
- Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants received 57% of all licenses issued statewide, emphasizing ongoing commitments to fairness and inclusion in New York’s cannabis industry.
(Photo credit: GETTY Images).
The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) today approved 36 new adult-use cannabis licenses and dozens of license renewals at its monthly meeting. “New York’s cannabis market continues to demonstrate both momentum and purpose,” said Susan Filburn, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM. “Each approval, regulation, and programmatic update reflects our commitment to building a market that is safe, transparent, and positioned for long-term success.”
The February meeting reflects ongoing progress toward a fully regulated cannabis marketplace that supports licensees, workers, and New York communities.
The CCB approved 36 new adult-use cannabis licenses, bringing the total number of adult-use licenses issued statewide to 2,110.
The newly approved licenses include:
Adult-Use Cultivator Licenses: 4
Adult-Use Processor Licenses: 13
Adult-Use Retail Dispensary Licenses: 17
CAURD Licenses: 2
“New York is shaping a cannabis market with staying power,” said Jessica Garcia, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board. “Each approval advances an ecosystem grounded in fairness, responsibility, and long-term opportunity across the supply chain, and in New York’s communities.”
OCM provided a high-level update on the phased rollout of New York’s statewide seed-to-sale tracking system and upcoming milestones for retail item-level identification, reaffirming a continued focus on licensee onboarding, data accuracy, and system stability. More information is available at: https://cannabis.ny.gov/seed-to-sale
OCM shared an update on its ongoing effort to better understand workforce conditions across New York’s cannabis and hemp industries through the Workforce Composition Survey. The survey helps inform data-driven policy decisions, workforce development strategies, and resources that reflect real conditions faced by licensees statewide.
The Office announced an extension of the Workforce Composition Survey deadline to Friday, February 13, 2026, allowing additional time for licensees to participate. Responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate.
New York’s legal cannabis market is showing strong year-over-year growth and early momentum in 2026. Reported retail sales reached $1.69 billion in 2025, with $127.1 million in sales recorded so far in 2026. Retail activity remains robust, with approximately 582 dispensaries now open statewide and 18 new stores opening so far in 2026. The 287 stores that opened in 2025 accounted for roughly 40 percent of December 2025 retail sales, demonstrating the growing contribution of newer market participants.
As of January 2026, New York has issued 2,110 active adult-use licenses, including:
239 cultivators
229 distributors
319 microbusinesses
514 processors
484 retail dispensaries
Of all licenses issued statewide, 57 percent have been awarded to Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants. In addition, the state has 324 active CAURD licensees.
“These numbers reflect important progress, but they are not an endpoint,” said L. Simone Washington, Chief Equity Officer of the Office of Cannabis Management. “Our responsibility is to continually evaluate what is working, address gaps where they exist, and ensure that equity commitments translate into real access, meaningful participation, and fair treatment across the market.”
Among the 36 adult-use applications approved today, 53 percent are from SEE applicants, including Community Disproportionately Impacted (CDI), minority-owned, women-owned, and dually designated businesses. All SEE approvals in this cohort are processor licenses.
To date there are 582 legal dispensaries open for business across the Empire State. A full list of New York’s licensed, operational adult-use cannabis retailers is available here.
The next meeting of the Cannabis Control Board is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Albany, New York. Agenda details and livestream information will be posted in advance at: https://cannabis.ny.gov