Empire State Today

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the New York State Cannabis Control Board voted to waive licensing fees for two years for Adult-Use Conditional Cultivators. Hochul emphasized the importance of supporting farmers in the cannabis industry, stating, “Farmers are the backbone of our State, and we’re making sure the family farms across New York that are building our cannabis industry have a real chance to succeed.”

The fee waiver will benefit dispensaries transitioning to non-conditional license types, such as cultivation licenses and microbusiness licenses. Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management, expressed optimism about the direction of New York's cannabis market, saying, “By waiving licensing fees for two years, we’re making sure conditional cultivators have a chance to reap the rewards of this growing industry.”

The Cannabis Control Board approved 114 new licenses, including 45 retail dispensaries and 31 microbusiness licenses. Tremaine Wright, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board, highlighted the importance of fostering competition, choice, and equity in the market, stating, “The Cannabis Control Board is here to help this market grow and thrive in the ways we all know is possible.”

In addition to the new licenses issued, the Cannabis Control Board renewed permits for 17 cannabis testing laboratories, which play a crucial role in ensuring product quality and safety in the legal cannabis market.

Furthermore, since the last Cannabis Control Board meeting, 16 new adult-use cannabis dispensaries have opened across New York State, marking a significant expansion in the industry. These new dispensaries have opened in various municipalities, including Cohoes, Buffalo, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, among others.

The Office anticipates a significant number of applications will be ready for Board approval at future meetings, indicating a continued growth trajectory for the cannabis market in New York.