The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), in partnership with Empire State Development (ESD), has awarded the first round of funding through the $5 million Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) Grant Program to 52 licensed dispensary owners across the state.
This grant initiative helps cover essential startup and operational costs such as commercial rent, renovations, security systems, inventory tracking, and retail technology as well as reimbursement for expenses already paid during the startup process. —providing up to $30,000 in reimbursement support per awardee.
“These grants are about more than dollars and cents, they are about investing in the people and communities who are helping to build New York’s cannabis market the right way,” said Felicia A.B. Reid, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. “OCM is proud to support the development of cannabusinesses led by formerly justice-involved entrepreneurs. Their work speaks to the incredible promise of business inclusivity and demonstrates what’s possible when equity is more than just a word—it’s a foundation.”
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes re: CAURD Grant said “This funding is giving people entering the cannabis industry a bit of a leg up as they navigate an industry that is still very much in its infancy. This is also about social equity and reinvesting in communities, and I am very happy to see this funding going to communities across the state, and especially in my hometown of Buffalo.”
Senator Jeremy Cooney, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis said, “Throughout our efforts to build a thriving cannabis market in New York, we have never lost sight of the equity commitments we made when the MRTA was first passed. The CAURD Grant program is an important step in this process, putting money directly in the hands of local dispensary owners to help grow their businesses and set them up for sustained success. I want to congratulate the first round of awardees, and I look forward to our ongoing work to support these entrepreneurs.”
Awardees in this first round of funding represent a wide range of communities, including Buffalo, Plattsburgh, Oneonta, New Paltz, Brooklyn, and Riverhead. Administered by FORWARD, a third-party service provider contracted by ESD, the CAURD Grant Program is a key component of New York’s ongoing effort to create an equitable, inclusive, and sustainable cannabis industry. Funds were awarded on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis. More than 100 additional licensees have recently been notified that they will be awarded grants, with future updates and continued support expected as the program moves forward.
Dave Tubens Co-founder and Owner of Planet Nugg in Farmingdale, LI said, “We are grateful to have received this grant from the New York State CAURD Grant Program, supporting our mission to build a responsible and community-focused cannabis dispensary. This funding empowers us to expand equitable access, create local jobs and promote education around safe cannabis use. We are proud to be part of shaping a just and inclusive industry in New York”
Purple Owl Dispensary in White Plains said, “We’re incredibly honored to receive this award. It’s a testament to our amazing team and the support of this incredible community. We’re excited for the journey ahead.”
Supporting licensees and advancing social equity are top priorities for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. From grant funding and technical assistance to education and enforcement, OCM is committed to building a fair, inclusive, and sustainable legal cannabis industry that creates opportunity for historically marginalized communities and benefits all New Yorkers. CAURD licensees were the first retail dispensaries to open for legal adult-use cannabis sales in New York State, establishing businesses owned by justice-involved individuals at the bedrock of New York’s adult-use cannabis market.
CAURD licensees made New York’s first legal cannabis sales, speeding the delivery of investments into communities across New York State that were impacted by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition.
For more information on CAURD licensing and business support programs, visit cannabis.ny.gov/caurd
