New York’s Marijuana Businesses Get Temporary Reprieve from Closure
A group of over 150 cannabis dispensaries in New York that were facing the possibility of closure have been granted a temporary reprieve. The dispensaries, which had sued the state after a change in the buffer zone between cannabis shops and schools, will be allowed to operate for at least the next five months under an interim agreement reached with state regulators.
The dispute began when the state’s Office of Cannabis Management extended the buffer zone between cannabis shops and schools, placing some dispensaries within a 500-foot zone prohibiting marijuana sales. The affected dispensaries, mostly owned by people of color who were given priority in the licensing process due to their history of being disproportionately affected by New York’s earlier anti-marijuana laws, were threatened with closure if the state did not carve out an exception to allow them to stay in place.
Under the agreement, the state will delay enforcing the revised policy until February 15, giving the dispensaries time to continue operating. The agreement was outlined in a legal filing submitted by the state attorney general’s office in State Supreme Court in Albany.
The dispute highlights the challenges faced by cannabis businesses in New York, which have been navigating a complex regulatory environment and strict rules and taxes. Many of the affected dispensaries were still waiting for final approval to begin sales or had license renewals coming up before lawmakers could take action.
The policy shift was met with criticism from some lawmakers and community groups, who expressed concerns about the proximity of some dispensaries to schools. However, the agreement has been welcomed by many in the industry, who see it as a temporary solution that will allow them to continue operating while the state works to find a more permanent solution.
“It’s hard to predict what’s going to happen next in this industry, but I think it’s a win,” said Coss Marte, co-founder and CEO of ConBud, a dispensary on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
The temporary reprieve has also been seen as a victory for the affected dispensary owners, who had been facing uncertainty and financial stress. “I’m going to open the second they tell me I can,” said Nubia Ashley, who was waiting for approval to open her dispensary in Manhattan.
