New York CCB Announces Opinions on Long Island Cannabis Ordinances

The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) recently held their monthly public meeting where the Board announced two advisory opinions which included “finding local ordinances on Long Island, in Southhampton and Riverhead, ‘unreasonably impracticable,’ under Cannabis Law,” (1). With these opinions, “municipalities have limited ability to impose barriers that frustrate state-licensed businesses from opening within their jurisdictions.”

“This outcome makes clear that local laws do not override the laws of New York State,” said Felicia A.B. Reid, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management (1). “The Legislature set out that cannabusiness is a legal economic driver — not to be hampered by local efforts to undermine their collective vision. The CCB has issued a clarion call to municipalities: economic development suffers when legitimate opportunities are open for some but withheld from others. Cannabusiness means jobs—plant-touching and non — that support families and communities; so long as they follow the rules, they have earned the right to exist.”

As mentioned in the press release, the New York CCB has issued 1,950 adult-use licenses throughout the state as of October 6, 2025, 56.4% went towards Social and Economic Equity (SEE) licensees. Also included in their total were 299 CAURD licensees (1). During the CCB’s monthly public meeting, the Board approved of 33 new licenses, processed additional amendments, appeals, renewals, as well as listened to updates regarding research and licensing standards. During the meeting, New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) staff shared updates in regard to the school-proximity litigation, the upcoming OCM Medical Cannabis Symposium, the announcement of a public comment period for event regulations, and a seed-to-sale implementation timeline (1,2).

The 33 licenses include (1):

• Adult-Use Cultivator License: 11

• Adult-Use Distributor License: 3

• Adult-Use Microbusiness License: 3

• Adult-Use Processor License: 6

• Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License: 8

• CAURD License: 2

“This month’s approvals reinforce the promise of a fair and thriving cannabis industry for all New Yorkers,” said Jessica García, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board (1). “Every license represents new opportunity, community investment, and a stronger regulated market built on equity and trust.”

Program Update for CAURD Grant Program

In the OCM’s press release (1), the SEE team shared that there has been funding awarded to 159 licensees throughout all 10 Empire State Development regions for the CAURD Grant Program. From a $5 million fund, CAURD awardees received grants of up to $30,000. The press release mentioned that the recipients of these grants have utilized the funds for “immediate cash-flow relief (e.g., rent, payroll), compliance and stability (security, insurance, professional services), consumer confidence and visibility (signage, marketing, store build-outs), and growth and expansion (renovations, equipment, inventory),” (1).

With this grant program forged between both the Empire State Development and OCM, licensed dispensary owners have received assistance which has helped them make regulatory compliance improvements, inventory tracking, and cover critical startup costs, which include point-of-sale systems, commercial rent, and security equipment.

OCM’s Medical Symposium 2025

The OCM will be hosting in partnership with Northwell Health, the 2^nd Annual Medical Cannabis Symposium: Cannabinoids in Clinical Practice, which is taking place at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, New York, between November 6 to November 7, 2025 (1). During this event, 4.75 CME credits will be offered to participating healthcare professionals.

Update on New York Market and Social Equity

Sales in the Big Apple State have reached $1.26 billion year-to-date in 2025 (1). Previously, cannabis stores were heading in a downward trend but are now hinting at rising growth as businesses have become more established and stabilized in the market.

“Equity is not an add-on—it is the foundation of this market,” said L. Simone Washington, Chief Equity Officer of the Office of Cannabis Management (1). “Today’s approvals show how justice-involved, women-, and minority-owned businesses are not just entering the market but shaping its future.”

Of the 33 licenses approved during the meeting, 21 (65%) were awarded to SEE applicants, including (1):

• 2 Community Disproportionately Impacted (CDI) businesses

• 5 CDI and Minority-Owned businesses

• 2 CDI, Minority-Owned, and Women-Owned businesses

• 2 Minority-Owned businesses

• 4 Minority- and Women-Owned businesses

• 1 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned business

• 5 Women-Owned businesses

In New York State, there are currently 497 legal dispensaries open to conduct businesses in the state.

References

1. NEW YORK STATE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD ISSUES “UNREASONABLY IMPRACTICABLE” ADVISORY OPINIONS PREEMPTING LOCAL LAWS; ADVANCES EQUITY WITH NEW LICENSE APPROVALS https://cannabis.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/10/october-2025-ccb-press-release.pdf (accessed Oct 13, 2025).
2. Colli, M. New York cannabis dispensaries win Big: Supreme Court halts OCM relocation order for 150+ stores https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/new-york-cannabis-dispensaries-win-big-supreme-court-halts-ocm-relocation-order-for-150-stores (accessed Oct 13, 2025).