The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has given approval to 50 new adult-use licenses, bringing the total to 1,726.
The approvals were given at the Board’s monthly meeting yesterday. During the meeting, the Board also relayed pivotal information regarding its emerging Seed-to-Sale (STS) program and the soft launch of a consumer-focused Buy Legal mapping system.
“New York’s Seed-to-Sale tracking system will be a critical part of OCM’s compliance and enforcement work as the agency continues to build the cannabis market. The transparency and accountability the system will provide allows OCM to trace every cannabis product from cultivation to consumer, ensuring that only legally grown and tested products reach the marketplace,” said Felicia A.B. Reid, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. “This implementation is a win for consumers, operators, and the future of fair and well-regulated cannabis in New York. STS brings meaningful structure and support to licensed operators. This system is a critical advancement for operators navigating a regulated market and it’s an important tool in our efforts to prevent inversion and maintain integrity across the supply chain. The Office will work with licensees to meet key integration deadlines over the next few months as Seed-to-Sale comes online.”
The Board also approved three (3) proposed dispensary locations of Registered Organizations from the application pool that closed in December 2023, once again expanding access for medical cannabis patients in New York.
“The authorization of the dispensary locations for these Registered Organizations highlights the Board and Office’s commitment to expanding safe and reliable access to medical cannabis for patients across the state,” said Tremaine Wright, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board. “This decision reflects our continued commitment to strengthening the medical cannabis program and ensuring it evolves to meet patient needs for New Yorkers who rely on it for their health and well-being.”
Key Seed-to-Sale Integration Deadlines Announced
The OCM also discussed the progress of its Seed-to-Sale system, which tracks the lifecycle of cannabis from the time of planting, through harvest, processing, packaging, laboratory testing, and sale to a consumer. The Office announced key integration dates for licensees, including cultivators, microbusinesses, processors, and licensed retail dispensaries.
All licensees are required to secure an electronic inventory tracking system that can integrate with the NY STS Tracking System (BioTrack) no later than June 15, 2025, with key implementation deadlines by license type, set between August 1 and October 1, 2025. Hailing this as a win for public trust and accountability in the state’s cannabis industry, the Office is eager to work with licensees to fully integrate the market before 2026.
As part of the initial launch, OCM will cover up to $250,000 in inventory tag purchases for licensed operators. These tags serve as unique identifiers for cannabis products, maintaining traceability from cultivation through processing, packaging, laboratory testing, and ultimately, sale.
Buy Legal Map to Launch
The Office also announced its Buy Legal Cannabis Map, a consumer facing tool aimed at providing ease of access to searching for licensed and open dispensaries across New York State.
Consumers will be able to navigate to nearby medical and retail dispensaries using integrated technology from Google that provides dispensary locations, directions, and hours of operation. The Buy Legal Map is designed to accommodate mobile phone use, making it easier for customers to search on the go. Licensed retailers are being encouraged to update their business information on all platforms and with the OCM before the official launch of the map.
The OCM’s LOCAL Map and Open Data Portal will still be available for stakeholders who need more details focused on regulatory requirements and eligibility.
Adult-Use License Approvals
The CCB approved 52 new adult-use cannabis licenses, bringing the total to 1,726. Of those approved at the meeting, 68% are held by Social and Economic Equity (SEE) licensees, the majority of which are women-owned businesses (61%).
|
The 52 licenses include: |
# |
|
Adult-Use Cultivator License: |
1 |
|
Adult-Use Distributor License: |
4 |
|
Adult-Use Microbusiness License: |
12 |
|
Adult-Use Processor License: |
17 |
|
Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License: |
18 |
Listen and Learn: Youth and Trusted Adults – Cannabis Education Initiative Launch
OCM also announced the launch of its statewide listening sessions designed to engage young people and the trusted adults in their lives—including parents, guardians, mentors, and caregivers—on cannabis and cannabis-related concerns.
The Office is partnering with local community-based organizations to ensure inclusive and meaningful dialogue that aims to gather community insight to better understand the concerns and informational needs of families across the state. The Office plans to use the sessions to produce culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, youth-driven resources that meet youth and their trusted adults “where they’re at” with the information they need most.
This series marks a significant step in OCM’s broader effort to ensure cannabis education in New York is grounded in equity, public health, and community engagement.
The sessions will be held May through August 2025.
Market and Social Economic Equity Update: 4/20 Sees State’s 2nd Best Sales Week-Ever
Cannabis growth continues as retail sales totaled $1.58 billion following the third consecutive month of revenue gains. Sales in 2025 alone have reached nearly $500 million early into the year, with 420 bringing in record-breaking weekly revenue.
The week of 4/20 saw a 14% revenue bump compared to the preceding four-week average, marking the -best sales week for the NY market ever, with over $31 million in sales. The state estimates that the holiday drove an additional $4 million in review for the week compared to the preceding weeks. Additionally, 4/20 sales were 18% higher than the same day last year, reflecting continued strong market growth.
The state continues to demonstrate its commitment to Social and Economic Equity (SEE) by ensuring broad participation in the adult-use licensing process. Of the 1,797 adult-use licenses issued by the Board, 52% have been awarded to SEE applicants. This includes Community Disproportionately Impacted (CDI) applicants (14%), distressed farmers (8%), minority-owned businesses (46%), service-disabled veteran-owned businesses (7%), and women-owned businesses (56%).
New adult-use dispensary openings spiked before 4/20, with 19 stores opening their doors just two weeks before the holiday. Due to increased competition and price declines, sales per store have continued to decline by 37% since September.
There are currently 377 legal dispensaries open for business across the Empire State. A full list of New York’s licensed, operational adult-use cannabis retailers is available here.
More articles from The Marijuana Herald:
