New York Approves 27 New Adult-Use Marijuana Licenses, Bringing Total to Over 2,220, Moves Forward With Event Sales Rules
- New York regulators approved 27 new adult-use marijuana licenses, increasing the total licensed cannabis businesses statewide to over 2,200.
- The newly approved licenses include cultivators, distributors, microbusinesses, processors, and retail dispensaries, with more than 623 legal dispensaries currently open across the state.
- The Cannabis Control Board introduced new regulations for cannabis showcase events, allowing licensed retailers to sell marijuana at certain events outside traditional dispensaries, pending Office of Cannabis Management approval.
- Social and economic equity remains a priority, with 56% of all adult-use licenses issued to equity applicants; 40% of the latest approved licenses are tied to minority-owned, women-owned, or disproportionately impacted community businesses.
New York regulators approved 27 new adult-use marijuana licenses Thursday, bringing the total number of licensed cannabis businesses to over 2,200. Officials also put forth new regulations for cannabis showcase events.
The approvals came during a meeting of the Cannabis Control Board, which also included action on license renewals, amendments and new regulations for cannabis showcase events. The newly approved licenses included one cultivator, two distributors, three microbusinesses, eight processors and 13 retail dispensaries.
With the latest round of approvals, New York has now issued 2,204 adult-use licenses statewide. That total includes 246 cultivators, 234 distributors, 324 microbusinesses, 540 processors, 519 retail dispensaries and 341 Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses.
State officials also said there are now more than 623 legal dispensaries open across New York.
In addition to the new licenses, the board voted to adopt regulations for cannabis showcase events, which would create a system for licensed marijuana sales at certain events outside of traditional dispensaries. Under the rules, eligible licensed retailers would need approval from the Office of Cannabis Management to receive a permit. Retailers would also need to partner with at least one licensed cultivator, and any participating processors could not outnumber cultivators at an event.
The regulations are not in effect yet and will become effective once filed with the Department of State.
Officials also used the meeting to highlight social and economic equity participation in the legal market. According to the Office of Cannabis Management, 56% of all adult-use licenses issued so far have gone to social and economic equity applicants. Of the 27 applications recommended for approval at Thursday’s meeting, 11, or about 40%, were tied to equity applicants, including businesses identified as minority-owned, women-owned and community disproportionately impacted.
The board also received updates on community impact plan requirements, renewal guidance and the continued development of a centralized resource hub for equity applicants and licensees.
The next Cannabis Control Board meeting is scheduled for May 7 on Long Island.