Top state officials knew for a month that a legal mistake put over 150 cannabis businesses at risk—but didn’t alert licensees until this week, according to Spectrum News. The Office of Cannabis Management failed to follow a rule barring dispensaries within 500 feet of schools, a misstep dating back to 2022.
Acting director Felicia A.B. Reid said the agency started exploring fixes once the error was discovered, but lawmakers were only briefed days ago. Some impacted retailers, locked into long-term leases, now face closure and legal battles. One dispensary owner called the late notice “a gut punch.”
Officials are considering a legislative fix and temporary grace periods. But with no solution expected until 2026, many small businesses fear they won’t survive the delay.
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