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Officials urge citizens to vote
New York City’s Cannabis Dispensary Licensure Opens
State Approves First Conditional Retail Licenses for Adult-Use Cannabis
Regulators Issue 36 Conditional Dispensary Licenses To Businesses Owned By People Harmed Most By Prohibition
On Friday, December 23, 2022, New York began issuing the first 36 conditional adult-use retail dispensary licenses. This move marked a significant milestone in the state's efforts to establish a legal and regulated adult-use cannabis market.
The Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses were initially awarded to businesses owned by people who had been disproportionately harmed by the criminalization of cannabis. This decision reflects the state's commitment to social equity and restorative justice in the cannabis industry.
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) stated that the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses were issued to 28 storefronts in New York City, three in Western New York, two in the Mid-Hudson, one in the Finger Lakes, one in Central New York, and one in the North Country.
The licenses are conditional upon the businesses meeting certain requirements, such as completing background checks, obtaining insurance, and passing inspections. Once these requirements have been met, the businesses will be issued permanent licenses.
The Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program prioritizes applicants who meet specific criteria related to past cannabis-related convictions or involvement in the illicit market, as well as those who live in communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition.
The opening of adult-use cannabis dispensaries in New York is a significant step forward for the state's cannabis industry. It is expected to create thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue.
The state is also taking steps to ensure public health and safety by regulating the sale of cannabis products and implementing strict quality control standards.
The Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program is part of the state's larger effort to create a safe, equitable, and responsible adult-use cannabis market.
Officials Urge New Yorkers to Vote on Cannabis Legalization
With adult-use cannabis sales now underway in New York, state officials are reminding citizens of the importance of voting in the upcoming referendum on the legalization of cannabis.
The referendum will be held on Election Day, November 8, 2023. If passed, it will amend the state constitution to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults 21 and older.
Voting yes on the referendum will help ensure that New York's cannabis market is safe, regulated, and equitable. It will also allow the state to continue to collect tax revenue from the sale of cannabis products.
Officials are urging all New Yorkers to vote in the referendum and make their voices heard. The outcome of the referendum will have a significant impact on the future of cannabis in New York.