As the state navigates what to do about cannabis licensing, there are several updates.
New York recently approved the first 36 cannabis dispensary licenses in the state. According to The Evening Tribune there were 28 Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary licenses issued. Another 8 were issued to nonprofits that have historically helped incarcerated people.
People over age 21 can buy from these dispensaries. During a public hearing, the issue of black market pot sales came up. There are several stores in New York City who are currently not licensed to sell cannabis.
Various businesses received licensing including a bakery, deli, restaurant, pet supply retailers, and vape shops.
Those who received the CAURD licenses had to have a cannabis conviction themselves or a family member who had one. They also needed to own a profitable business.
NYC received 13 licenses, Long Island received 7, and the rest were spread out outside of the city. Areas included the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier, and North Country regions.
The nonprofit licenses were spread throughout the state, including in Rochester and Binghamton.
Five regions cannot give licenses right now, and that includes the Finger Lakes. These regions are stuck waiting due to a lawsuit filed by an out of state company called Variscite. The company was denied permits in 5 regions and filed a lawsuit claiming it was not constitutional to favor New York residents. Now in all the regions that applied for a permit, permits cannot be given according to Rochester First.
While retail licenses are currently being paused in these regions, growing permits have not been. This means local growers are able to grow and sell their products to the approved cannabis retailers throughout the state.
According to Local Syracuse, one of these growers include Gen V Labs LLC on their property at Beak & Skiff Farms in LaFayette. Some of their products include cannabis-infused beverages, gummies, and vapes.
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