Cannabis in New York – Applications for Retail Dispensary Licenses begin on August 25 (August 22, 2022)

Cannabis in New York – Applications for Retail Dispensary Licenses begin on August 25 (August 22, 2022)

August 22, 2022

Cannabis in New York – Applications for Retail Dispensary Licenses begin on August 25

To our Clients and Friends:

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management will begin accepting applications for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) Licenses starting on August 25, 2022. 

“This is a monumental step in establishing the most equitable, diverse, and accessible cannabis industry in the nation,” noted Chris Alexander, the Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.

These will be the first set of New York adult-use cannabis licenses, with products grown by New York farmers, at legal adult-use retail dispensaries.  These licenses will be operated by applicants with a previous marijuana-related offense whose conviction in the State of New York occurred before the passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act (March 31, 2021).  Applicants can also include individuals who have a family member (parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, or dependent) had a pre-MRTA marijuana-related offense conviction in the State of New York.  Applicants must also show experience of owning and operating a qualifying business.  See CMXLaw’s Newly Adopted Adult-Use Cannabis Retail Dispensary Regulations (July 26, 2022) providing more information on applying for CAURD licenses.

The CAURD licensing program timeline:

• NY State’s Cannabis Control Board issued proposed regulations for CAURD licensees for public comment on March 2022
• Public comment period closed on May 31, 2022
• Final rules and regulations issued on July 14, 2022
• Application portal for CAURD licenses will open on New York State Business Express on August 25, 2022
• CAURD license application window will close on September 26, 2022

Opt-in/Opt-out:

Local municipalities have the ability to opt-in or opt-out of the CAURD licensing program and not permit retail dispensaries or on-site consumption lounges in their communities.

The Rockefeller Institute created the Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker, a database that reports which municipalities have opted-in or opted-out of adult-use marijuana dispensaries and/or on-site consumption lounges.

For example, Westchester municipalities that will allow retail dispensaries:

Cortlandt (Town)
Peekskill (City)

Croton-on-Hudson (Village)
Pelham (Town)

Greenburgh (Town)
Pound Ridge (Town)

Hastings-on-Hudson (Village)
Rye (Town)

Mount Vernon (City)
Sleepy Hollow (Village)

New Rochelle (City)
Tarrytown (Village)

Ossining (Town)
White Plains (City)

Ossining (Village)
Yonkers (City)

And Westchester municipalities that allow on-site consumption lounges: 

Mount Vernon (City)
Rye (Town)

New Rochelle (City)
Sleepy Hollow (Village)

Peekskill (City)
White Plains (City)

Pelham (Town)
Yonkers (City)

Pound Ridge (Town)

 

Additional information can be obtained from the Office of Cannabis Management.

In addition, further information or any questions on the applying for CURD licenses, or the regulatory framework of legal cannabis activities in New York State and other jurisdictions, please contact Marvin Miller (miller@cmxlaw.com), Head of CMX’s Cannabinoids and Psychotherapeutics Practice Group    and Paul Crath (crath@cmxlaw.com)

 

Crath Miller & Xistris LLP

Offices: New York
Newport Beach

For further information, please contact us at info@cmxlaw.com.

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