New York eases restrictions on cannabis dispensary locations

The New York City Bureau of Cannabis Management last week eased restrictions on the location of the state’s first cannabis dispensaries, allowing business owners to choose the location for their retail operations. Before the change, the new business owners had to accept a retail location assigned by a government agency.

The change, coming just three weeks before licensed retail sales of recreational marijuana are scheduled to begin in New York, gives new retail cannabis licensees flexibility in choosing where to locate their store, subject to receiving state approval. The new policy is also intended to ease the burden on the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), the agency tasked with providing new cannabis business owners access to financing and real estate to start their businesses. The change was announced by the state’s cannabis regulator, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), in a statement on Friday, according to a New York Times report.

Last month, the OCM announced that the first three dozen Adult Contingent Retail Expense (CAURD) licenses were awarded to 28 individuals with prior marijuana-related convictions and eight nonprofit organizations serving individuals with prior arrests or convictions for marijuana-related offenses to serve. Under the plan, licensees are entitled to a turnkey delivery site to host their businesses. So far, however, DASNY has struggled to secure and prepare the retail stores needed to launch the 175 cannabis dispensaries planned under the CAURD licensing program, raising doubts that retail sales will begin before the end of the year.

Damian Fagon, OCM’s chief equity officer, said the agency made the change after consulting with the first business owners to be granted licenses, many of whom expressed a desire for more website flexibility for their businesses. The decision also eases the pressure on DASNY to speed up the leasing process.

“It’s just about adapting to changing circumstances and getting this thing to work for New York,” Fagon said, adding, “People are willing to make some money and we’re willing to make that so easy for them.” as possible.”

Agency signs first lease for Dispensary Storefront

At a DASNY meeting held last week, President and CEO Reuben R. McDaniel III announced that the agency has signed its first retail cannabis dispensary lease for a property in Harlem, just steps from the famed Apollo Theater.

“I am pleased to announce that we signed our first lease last night,” he told the DASNY board. “For those of you familiar with Harlem, you can stand at the Apollo and throw a baseball right across the street.”

McDaniel said the design team had finalized preliminary plans for the 2,800-square-foot site and construction would begin once final plans were approved by DASNY. He didn’t reveal which licensee would get the business site, but noted that the agency hopes to sign more leases by the end of the year.

Keshawn Warner is one of the business owners who have been granted a license to retail cannabis under the CAURD program. Warner, who owns a drugstore called The Pharmacy in Harlem with his wife, said he has not yet been notified where his pharmacy will be located. He is also awaiting official notification of cannabis delivery rules before his physical store opens.

“Location, you obviously have your desires,” Warner told New York online news source The City. “Most important to me is the effectiveness of the rollout.”

“If it’s in Harlem, it would be great for Harlem,” he added. “This is a moment in history.”

Vladimir Bautista, CEO of New York-based lifestyle and events brand Happy Munkey and a retail license applicant, said the new OCM policy, which allows cannabis dispensary owners to choose a location for their business, gives them more flexibility will start operations in a timely manner.

“I think it’s a step in the right direction,” he said. “If we only counted on the state, we would be limited.”