Industry

Delivery is in the works for New York’s new legal weed stores

Published on December 5, 2022
Anonymous delivery service courier delivering an unmarked brown bag
(Adobe Stock)

The New York Office of Cannabis Management’s latest advisory board meeting went down December 1, with the stated deadline of New Year’s looming.

Last month, 36 operators, including eight nonprofits and 28 justice involved individuals, were awarded the first round of licenses to operate dispensaries. While nonprofits may use their own pre-established location, the other 28 licensees must wait for the state to assign them a physical retail space.

Delivery is coming soon

Newly-licensed dispensaries will be able to conduct sales via delivery while they establish their new storefronts, provided the licensees follow the regulations outlined by the OCM, announced Executive Director Chris Alexander at the meeting.

Alexander added that regulations for consumption spaces or delivery-only businesses still have not been finalized, emphasizing that delivery is the best temporary solution to get the new stores up and running while brick and mortar stores are prepared.

New regulation to protect New York dispensaries

Director of Policy John Kagia also announced updated industry regulations, which include protections for cannabis businesses from municipalities that may want to undermine them before they’ve even opened.

Kagia stated that while local municipalities may submit their opinions for allowing a cannabis dispensary to operate in their jurisdiction, they “can’t create special rules” specifically for weed businesses, such as cannabis-only fees, or requiring the state minimum of 70 hours of operation per week.

“This will help protect our licensees from local laws that could make it more difficult for them to be successful and even more difficult to effectively run a cannabis business.”

John Kagia, OCM Director of Policy

State announces new equity mentorship program

Additionally, Damian Fagon, the OCM’s chief equity officer, announced that 250 applicants had been selected for the state’s equity mentorship program, which was designed to help impacted applicants prepare to enter the market.

The program is slated to start mid-January 2023, and consists of a “10-week webinar series aimed at growing and diversifying the pipeline of farmers and processors in the market.”

More updates from New York

  • The meeting did not address the state’s recent change in cannabis testing regulations that now allow higher acceptable levels of certain molds, bacteria and pesticides in regulated products.
    A report released this week also found that many illicit shops claiming to have licensed and tested products could be selling weed and vapes that are tainted with E. coli, mold, and pesticides.
  • On November 21, the 36 first adult-use dispensary licenses went to business owners with New York cannabis convictions and nonprofits. The first approved stores are expected to open within the next three weeks.

Shop highly rated dispensaries near you

Showing you dispensaries near
See all dispensaries
Amelia Williams
Amelia Williams
New York-based freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a graduate of San Francisco State University's journalism program, and a former budtender. Williams has contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle's GreenState, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine, and Cannabis Now, Kirkus Reviews, and The Bold Italic.
View Amelia Williams's articles
Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.



Stay In Touch

Receive updates on new products, special offers, and industry news.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Leafly mobile app
Get high for less.
Download the Leafly app.
Download Leafly: Marijuana Reviews on the App Store
Download Leafly Marijuana Reviews on Google Play




* Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for individual medical advice.


© 2024 Leafly, LLC
Leafly and the Leafly logo are registered trademarks of Leafly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.