Cannabis sales in New York should start soon – Here’s what you need to know

By the end of the year, New Yorkers will be able to buy legal recreational marijuana. The process has been long, with many ups and downs, but it seems like the state has finally figured out how to build a new business that will benefit those affected by the War on Drugs. Here’s what you should know about the legal market in New York.

When can you shop?

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Buying marijuana is still illegal, something that is confusing to anyone living in New York and seeing the number of retail outlets out there. However, this will soon change as the first recreational pharmacies are expected to open at the end of the year.

Who gets a license?

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The first licenses to be issued are those that belong to the CAURD (Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary) program. These are 150 licenses that are made available to ‘legally involved’ applicants who must also have experience of owning and running a business. Applicants can submit their documents until the end of August. You can read more details here.

What if you don’t qualify for a license yet?

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More licenses are expected to come out soon, with different requirements for different businesses ranging from weed bars to regular dispensaries. All of this will be announced in the coming months, although applicants can only apply for one license at a time.