The New York State Cannabis Control Board held a public meeting yesterday, Monday, November 21, in which they announced the approval of the first group of marijuana retail dispensary licenses. These approved dispensaries are on track to make the first legal adult-use sales with cannabis products grown by New York Farmers.
The Office of Cannabis Management received over 900 applications for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CUARD) licenses, and in yesterday’s meeting the Board approved 36 provisional licensees in NYS, including 28 qualifying individuals and 8 nonprofit CAURD applicants.
According to the release, licenses in NYC were granted to Nube NYC LLC in the Bronx, Carl M. Anderson III in the Bronx, Royal Leaf NY in the Bronx, Gabbys Green LLC in Queens, CGG Enterprises Inc. in Queens, Suzanne M. Furboter in Queens, Anthony Crapanzano in Queens, Smacked LLC in Manhattan, Gabriel Marin in Manhattan, Planet 51 LLC in Manhattan, Florisun LLC in Manhattan, Eastern Holdings 88 LLC on Staten Island, and SAMJNY Holdings LLC on Staten Island.
Approved nonprofits included Housing Works, The Doe Fund, Urban Upbound, Challenge Industries, the Center for Community Alternatives, LIFE Camps, the Broome County Urban League, and STRIVE.
In order to be eligible, applicants were required to either have had a cannabis conviction themselves, or be the family member of someone who has, and have owned a profitable business.
Nonprofits were eligible if they had a history of serving current or formerly incarcerated individuals, including creating vocational opportunities for them; have at least one justice involved board member; at least five full time employees; and have operated a social enterprise that had net assets or profit for at least two years.
The state of New York officially legalized recreational marijuana in March of 2021, and officials announced in April of this year that they were contemplating allowing restaurants to serve cannabis-infused food.
Yesterday’s decision marks the state’s first official green light to sell pot on a recreational level.
“Today is a monumental day for New York’s nascent cannabis industry. With the first adult-use retail dispensary licenses in the hands of businesses and eligible nonprofits, we’ve ensured the first sales will be made at dispensaries operated by those impacted by the unjust enforcement of cannabis prohibition,” said Tremaine Wright, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board.
Most of these newly approved shops are expected to open before the end of this year.