The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has held its final public meeting of 2024 at The Empire State Plaza Concourse, celebrating significant milestones and growth in the state's burgeoning cannabis industry. The meeting's agenda included the approval of 68 licenses across the cannabis supply chain, nearly 30 of which were adult-use processors and an additional 15 AU dispensaries. A total of 261 licensed adult-use cannabis dispensaries are now open and operating statewide. New York's regulated cannabis market has generated $918.7 million in sales revenue to date, quickly approaching the $1B milestone This achievement reflects the agency's steadfast commitment to fostering a thriving, equitable, and consumer-focused cannabis market.
"The New York State cannabis industry continues to set and exceed its benchmarks. With 261 dispensaries open and more than $900 Million in retail sales to date, we are seeing the real-world impacts of our efforts to support entrepreneurs, create industry-leading jobs, and generate revenue for our communities," said Tremaine Wright, Chairperson of The New York State Cannabis Control Board. "With the holidays fast approaching, there is an opportunity to continue to support local entrepreneurs in the marketplace and in turn uplift local businesses and strengthen neighborhood economies across the state."
The 68 licenses issued yesterday include: Adult-Use Cultivator License: 2; Adult-Use Distributor License: 21; Adult-Use Microbusiness License: 6; Adult-Use Processor License: 24; Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License: 15.
"In the last year, the OCM was able to not only grow the State's cannabis marketplace but also address operational vulnerabilities within the agency," said Felicia A.B. Reid, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. "By strengthening our processes and enhancing the framework, we're able to build the foundation for sustained growth and equitable opportunities that can benefit all New Yorkers. The proof of that strength is in the numbers, across the board the OCM has seen growth."
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) also provided a comprehensive summary of its 2024 accomplishments, highlighting key milestones achieved in the last year including the issuing of 1,394 adult-use licenses, and an increase in staffing at the Office to 214 FTEs. Acting Director Felicia A. B. Reid provided the update as the agency prepares to publish its annual report before the new year.
Other key accomplishments for the Office include expanded enforcement authority which led to 1,200 inspections and more than 400 illicit stores padlocked. The OCM partnered with more than 20 state agencies to address illicit cannabis trafficking. These continued efforts protect consumers from unregulated products and have supported increased revenue for licensed cannabis dispensaries.
The OCM also introduced two major tools aimed at supporting industry growth and consumer access. The Local Online Cannabis Activities Locator (LOCAL) Map, an interactive online map, offers proximity reports and license search capabilities, providing consumers with easy access to licensed dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses. Additionally, the Office implemented its BioTrack Seed-to-Sale tagging system for cannabis cultivators and processors to ensure product traceability and compliance, enhancing safety, integrity, and transparency across the supply chain.
Source: NYC Government