New York’s Adult-Use Cannabis Retail Footprint Growing Again

Five of New York’s social equity cannabis licensees previously under a court injunction are now launching their operations, growing the state’s adult-use retail footprint to 27 operators.  

These new operations, including four storefront dispensaries and one delivery-only retailer, began with two openings on Oct. 13 and three more happening this week.

This headway comes on the heels of state Supreme Court Judge Kevin Bryant signing off on exemption orders Oct. 6 that freed them from a lawsuit filed by four service-disabled veterans who argue the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) violated state law in its exclusion of licensing opportunities for them and other groups.

RELATED: New York Judge Grants Exemptions Allowing 5 CAURD Licensees to Open Dispensaries

While five of the state’s conditional adult-use retail dispensary (CAURD) licensees have been freed from the court injunction, another 436 of New York’s social equity awardees are still tied up in the lawsuit, meaning they have no means to see a return on their investments for the time being.

In announcing the five openings, OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul for her continued support of the office’s commitment to a Seeding Opportunity Initiative that was established with the goal of building an equitable cannabis industry.

“Creating a new cannabis industry centered around equity requires resiliency in the face of adversity, and we’re grateful for the licensees’ perseverance and commitment to launch their legal, licensed operations,” Alexander said in a public statement. “We’re making remarkable strides toward providing New Yorkers with safe, tested cannabis products. New York is building something special, and these entrepreneurs represent the best of what our state has to offer.”

The five new operations include:

1.) Elevate ADK opened Oct. 13 as the first dispensary in Saranac Lake, a village of roughly 4,900 people, making it the largest community by population in the Adirondack Park. Elevate ADK previously operated as a cannabis delivery-only retailer and is owned and operated by Eli Emery, who worked in organic vegetable farming and at farmers markets around the North Country for years before joining the cannabis space.

“I’m so excited and grateful to be bringing the North Country’s first licensed recreational dispensary to Saranac Lake,” Emery said in the OCM announcement. “I look forward to everything we can do at Elevate ADK to offer safe access to a wide variety of New York State cannabis products. Being able to bring this plant and its many benefits to our area in this way is a lifelong dream come true.”

2.) Air City Cannabis LLC opened a delivery-only operation Oct. 13 in Rome, located roughly 30 miles east of Syracuse. Air City is owned and operated by Courtney Forester, who owned and operated I-Candies, a fashion boutique and independent women’s clothing store.

3.) Terp Bros opened Oct. 17 as the first dispensary in Astoria, Queens, and the second dispensary in the borough. It’s owned and operated by Jeremy Rivera, who previously operated J&A Building Consultants, an authorized Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and New York City’s Department of Buildings (DOB) construction safety business.

“It is a surreal feeling to finally begin providing this wonderful Astoria neighborhood with high-quality, regulated cannabis products,” Rivera said in the OCM announcement. “Just a few years ago I would have never imagined I would not only own a cannabis dispensary, but also have the opportunity to support my family and give back to my community through this business. While there were challenges and moments of uncertainty and stress, I am immensely grateful for my team.”

4.) Gotham Buds will open Oct. 18 as Harlem’s first adult-use dispensary located just down the street from the Apollo Theater. The New York State Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund facilitated the build-out of the dispensary. Gotham Buds is owned by Jeffrey Lopez, Omar Tejeda, Gregory Gray, Brian Jones and Malika Bellamy. Lopez previously owned and operated J.D.G. Mobile Car Wash in New York City.

“As Gotham Buds opens its doors, it feels like a dream evolved,” Lopez said in the OCM announcement. “This dispensary is more than business—it’s the creation of our legacy in an industry where we’re carving new paths. Being Black plus Brown-owned, woman-owned, and family-owned isn’t just a label; it’s our pulse.”

5.) CONBUD LLC will open Oct. 19 as the first adult-use dispensary in the Lower East Side (Manhattan). CONBUD is owned and operated by Coss Marte, a Lower East Side native who also owns CONBODY, a world-renowned fitness method based on prison-style bodyweight workouts. CONBUD, similar to CONBODY, proudly hires formerly incarcerated individuals.

“As a New Yorker of color who spent years doing time for cannabis offenses, Thursday’s CONBUD grand opening is a celebration of social and poetic justice,” Marte said in the OCM announcement. “CONBUD stands as a symbol of hope and progress, showcasing a vision for a future where consumers and businesses partner to reduce recidivism rates, rebuild lives and create stronger, more inclusive communities. It’s been one hell of a road to get here, but just like cannabis, we’re here for good.”

These five retail openings come more than 10 months since adult-use sales first commenced via one CAURD licensee (Housing Works Cannabis Co.).

And while OCM leaders continue their efforts to “build the nation’s most equitable cannabis industry,” many CAURD licensees remain on the sidelines as the state’s application period for new adult-use cannabis licensees is now open through Dec. 18. This expansion will make hundreds of licenses available to individuals and businesses interested in legally growing, processing, distributing and selling cannabis.

Due to the uncertainty caused by the pending litigation challenging the validity of the CAURD program, provisional CAURD licensees have been notified of the opportunity to apply for an adult-use retail dispensary license during this application window, according to OCM.

The state will begin awarding these news licenses to cultivators, processors, distributors, microbusinesses and retail dispensaries in early 2024, according to the office.