You are reading

Cannabis Legalization and Licensing – Special Conditional License for Retail Sales to Become Available Before the End of 2022

(Photo: Unsplash)

April 13, 2022 Sponsored Story By Atty. Jeffrey Hoffman

*Jeffrey Hoffman is a licensed attorney in New York whose practice focuses on clients in the cannabis industry, including licensees in the adult-use cannabis market, practitioners in the medical cannabis space, and cannabis adjacent product and service providers. He has a particular interest in social and economic equity cannabis license applicants, and he also informs and assists those convicted of cannabis offenses in getting such convictions expunged from their record.

On March 31, 2021, the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) became the law of the land in New York. Generally, it legalized adult-use cannabis in the state and established a basic framework for licensing the cultivation, processing, distribution, retail dispensing, delivery, and on-site consumption of cannabis. The legislation also created the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) governed by the Cannabis Control Board (CCB).

Some parts of MRTA are already in full effect in New York. It is now legal for a person 21 years of age or older to use cannabis products and possess up to three ounces of cannabis flower and up to twenty-four grams of concentrated cannabis. In a departure from other states, which strictly limit the consumption of cannabis to private homes or other private spaces, New York allows the smoking of cannabis in any location where smoking cigarettes is allowed.

Over the course of 2022, the OCM will draft a regulatory scheme for the implementation of MRTA. Generally, the licenses will likely start being issued and businesses will start opening in 2023.

However, in a very recent development, the CCB has decided to issue a special Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License. This license will be available to individuals (and their parent, legal guardian, child, spouse, or dependent) who were convicted of a cannabis related crime before March 31, 2021 and are able to meet other criteria. These retail licenses will be the first issued in New York, and the associated retail stores are expected to open later this year. Additionally, New York is establishing a $200M fund which will assist these licensees with store locations and upfit.

New York has created some of the most liberal cannabis laws, not just in the United States, but anywhere in the world. New York allows consumption anywhere cigarettes are allowed and will have on-site consumption lounges which will be like bars but with cannabis instead of alcohol. It is quite likely that within the next five years, New York City (New Amsterdam) will take the title of “Cannabis Tourism Capital of the World” from the current holder: (Old) Amsterdam.

Those that are interested in participating in this novel industry are well advised to start forming their business plans and preparing for the submission of their license application.

Law Office of Jeffrey Hoffman
200 West 81st Street
New York, NY  10024
(646) 692-4083
info@420jurist.com

Note: Cannabis possession and use remains illegal under federal law.

Attorney Advertising. This information is not a substitute for professional legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a solicitation to offer legal advice. If you ignore this warning and convey confidential information in a private message or comment, there is no duty to keep that information confidential or forego representation adverse to your interests. Seek the advice of a licensed attorney in the appropriate jurisdiction before taking any action that may affect your rights.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Krishnan leads push to end city contracts with convicted landscaping company owner

Jun. 18, 2025 By Czarinna Andres

A coalition of elected officials and labor leaders is calling on the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to immediately terminate all contracts with Griffin’s Landscaping, a city contractor whose owner, Glenn Griffin, was recently sentenced to two years in federal prison for bribery and illegal dumping as part of a $2.4 million environmental crime scheme.

Teen robber wanted for snatching wallet from senior at SkyView Center in Flushing: NYPD

Police from the 109th Precinct in Flushing are looking for a young robber who targeted a senior at the Shops at SkyView Center late last month.

The teen was seen on video surveillance just inside the mall entrance at 40-24 College Point Blvd. at around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, when he spotted a 72-year-old man and approached him from behind and snatched a wallet from his hand, police said Tuesday. The suspect ran out of the mall and was last seen traveling on foot westbound on Roosevelt Avenue toward Citi Field. The senior was not injured during the encounter. His wallet contained just $8 in cash and multiple bank cards.

Six teens wanted for beating and robbing man in daylight robbery in Flushing: NYPD

A man was beaten and robbed by a gang of teenagers in broad daylight on a residential block in Flushing, and the half dozen suspects, who range in age from 13 to 16 years old, remain at large nearly a month after the attack.

The 27-year-old victim was walking past 143-46 37th Avenue just before 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, when two teens approached him from behind and began punching him repeatedly with closed fists in his face, head, and right eye, causing him to fall to the ground, police said. Four other teens joined in and began to strike the victim with an umbrella, hitting him in his right eye.

Former NYS Assembly candidate from Flushing charged with wire fraud: Feds

Flushing resident Dao Yin was arrested on Friday the 13th and charged with wire fraud in Brooklyn federal court for allegedly stealing more than $160,000 in campaign matching funds from New York State taxpayers during his failed attempt as a Democratic candidate for the New York State Assembly in 2024.

Yin is accused of reporting false campaign donations — including forged signatures of purported contributors — to secure matching funds. The 62-year-old Yin was arraigned Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon after a criminal complaint was unsealed that alleged he registered his campaign committee with the New York State Public Campaign Finance Program and submitted fraudulent forms and obtained approximately $162,800 in public matching funds as he challenged Assembly Member Ron Kim in last year’s Democratic primary.