New York Retail Dispensary Licenses Announced

On Nov. 20, 36 applicants were announced from a pool of 903 applicants. Thirty-six applicants were announced on Nov. 20, which were chosen out of a pool of 903 applicants.”BREAKING: In a historic decision, the #NYCCB has approved the first round of CAURD [Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary] licensees. 28 individuals involved in justice and 8 non-profit organizations will be the first to sell adult use-sales to New York farmers. This will bring many opportunities for our communities. On Nov. 21, the OCM posted #NYCCB on Twitter. The top five regions with the most CAURD licences are Manhattan (22), Long Islands (20), Brooklyn (19), Mid-Hudson 19), Queens (16), and Brooklyn (19). According to The New York Times, the majority of the finalists are either convicted or have a family member who has been convicted. Eight non-profit organizations (such as Housing Works and The Doe Fund) are included in the finalist announcement. The OCM also released a 282-page document outlining the state’s draft regulations. “The #NYCCB voted to move OCM’s largest adult use cannabis regulation package since the MRTA [Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act] was open for public comment. These regulations are intended to establish rules for a safe, equitable, consumer-driven market focused on small businesses,” the agency wrote, inviting the public to submit comments to [email protected] (which will be open for 60 days).The OCM has previously stated that it aims to have some retail dispensaries open before the end of 2022. Trivette Knowles, spokesperson for OCM, said that they are excited about granting the first adult use cannabis licenses. “New York is ready to sell adult-use cannabis and we’re still working towards achieving the goal of having first sales start this calendar year.” This expectation is consistent with a previous statement by Gov. Kathy Hochul also spoke out in October. Hochul stated that the first 20 dispensaries will be open by the end this year. “And then, every other month, another 20. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going be successful and it’s going to work.” Recent reports indicate that New York has more than $750 million worth cannabis harvested and stored, but there is no way for it to go without licensed dispensaries. Hudson Cannabis farm CEO Melany Dobson said that they have been waiting for the OCM approval to approve license approval. It’s a confusing path to market. Dobson stated to Bloomberg that dispensaries would open by the end of the year. “I’ve acted like that’s our only source of proof, so that we’re ready for that.” Cannabis begins to deteriorate as it ages, both in quality and color. Dobson explained that old cannabis begins to show a brownish glow. Hudson Cannabis’s facility allows it to store cannabis to protect it from degradation for approximately 12 months. However, other farms may not have the ability to do so for as long as that. A temporary injunction was issued by a judge to stop New York regulators issuing retail licenses to five areas of the state. This injunction could be extended to other areas of New York, according to David C. Holland, a partner at the law firm Prince Lobel. Holland stated that this could have an even greater impact on the state because the same state-specific contact requirements and conviction requirements were imposed within 14 regions of New York. These regions are designated to establish a CAURD dispensary. This may have prevented justice-involved persons from applying for a conditional licence in other states. Holland also mentioned that the state’s efforts to protect the state’s emerging cannabis industry have led to the imposition of similar state-specific contact requirements and convictions in other areas.