New York’s Cannabis Control Board approved 24 new adult-use cannabis licenses during its July 2 meeting while also adopting changes to the state’s medical cannabis regulations aimed at improving patient access.
The newly approved licenses include 15 adult-use cultivator licenses, six processor licenses, two retail dispensary licenses and one conditional adult-use retail dispensary license.
The approvals bring the total number of adult-use cannabis licenses issued statewide to 2,296.
The board also approved 76 adult-use license renewals, 15 renewals for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses, 36 license amendments and two application denials.
In addition to licensing actions, the board adopted updated regulations for New York’s Medical Cannabis Program following a public comment period that ended in May. The changes are expected to take effect later this month after a Notice of Adoption is published in the New York State Register.
Among the changes, patient certifications may now be issued for up to two years instead of one. The updated rules also increase possession limits, allowing registered patients and caregivers to possess up to a 60-day supply of medical cannabis or up to three ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of cannabis concentrate, whichever amount is greater.
The new regulations will also allow qualifying medical cannabis patients from other states to purchase medical cannabis products from registered dispensing facilities while visiting New York.
According to the Office of Cannabis Management, New York has now issued 270 cultivator licenses, 562 processor licenses, 247 distributor licenses, 327 microbusiness licenses, 531 retail dispensary licenses and 359 Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary licenses.
State officials said 56 percent of all adult-use cannabis licenses have been awarded to Social and Economic Equity applicants.
The Office of Cannabis Management also reported that New York’s regulated cannabis market generated approximately $895.4 million in combined adult-use and medical cannabis sales through June. Average daily retail sales reached approximately $5.26 million in June as the number of licensed dispensaries continued to grow statewide.
