The first legal recreational marijuana dispensary in New York is scheduled to open on December 29, marking the long-awaited launch of a cannabis industry that could become one of the most lucrative in the country.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that Housing Works, a minority-controlled nonprofit organization in Manhattan that serves people with HIV and AIDS, will be the first of 36 newly licensed dispensaries to begin selling cannabis to the general public, despite the fact that dozens of illegal shops have been in operation for many months.
The announcement came a month after the state’s Cannabis Control Board took a monumental step in establishing a legal market for marijuana by issuing the first round of licenses. In the coming months, the state is expected to issue an additional 139 licenses, with around 900 applicants waiting to hear their fate.
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“The industry will continue to grow from here, creating inclusive opportunities in every corner of New York State with revenue going to our schools and revitalizing communities,” Hochul said in his announcement.
Marijuana plants in a greenhouse at Hepworth Farms in Milton, New York on July 15, 2022. The first legal recreational marijuana dispensary in New York will open on December 29, 2022.
(AP Photo/Marina Riker, File)
New York legalized the recreational use of marijuana in March 2021.
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Housing Works, which also serves the homeless and ex-incarcerated, was one of eight nonprofits among the initial licensees.
“This opportunity will not only give our team the resources to advance our overall mission, but also to introduce and elevate products sourced from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and women-led cannabis brands across the state,” said Charles King, CEO from Housing Works.
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The state reserved its first round of retail licenses for applicants with marijuana convictions or their family members, plus some nonprofit groups. He also planned a $200 million public-private fund to help “social equity” applicants.
