NEW YORK — On Thursday it was announced that a date has been selected for when applications will be accepted for cannabis retail licenses.
The Office of Cannabis Management will be accepting application for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses on Aug. 25.
Eligible business applicants must have marijuana-related offense convictions that they themselves, parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, or dependent received before the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act (MRTA) was passed on March 31, 2021. Applicants must also have experience in owning and operating a business.
“In just two weeks my team will start accepting applications for adult-use retail cannabis dispensaries. This is a monumental step in establishing the most equitable, diverse, and accessible cannabis industry in the nation,” said Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. “We’ve worked to make this application as simple as possible for all interested applicants, and I cannot emphasize it enough that you do not need any legal expertise to fill this application out.”
Interested applicants are encouraged by the Office of Cannabis Management to start preparing their applications before the portal opens. An interactive resource has already been published to the Office of Cannabis Management website.
“Today’s announcement brings us to the precipice of legal, licensed cannabis sales in New York State,” said Tremaine Wright, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board. “With the Seeding Opportunity Initiative, New York has affirmed our commitment to making sure the first sales are conducted by those harmed by prohibition. We’re writing a new playbook for what an equitable launch of a cannabis industry looks like, and hope future states follow our lead.”
