On August 12, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that New York’s adult-use cannabis licensing scheme, which gives “Extra Priority” to applicants (or certain relatives) with New York State marijuana...more
A recent decision in the New York State Supreme Court has significant implications for the local regulation of adult-use cannabis dispensaries in New York. Tink & E. Co. (hereafter, “Tink”), an adult-use retail dispensary...more
On April 14, 2025, a cannabis retailer filed suit to challenge the provision of New York’s cannabis law that requires licensed businesses to maintain labor peace agreements with their workers. The New York lawsuit asserts...more
The Cannabis Regulatory Agency’s (CRA) Social Equity Program arises from a provision of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (MRTMA) designed to promote and encourage participation in the cannabis industry by...more
A group of four military veterans filed a lawsuit two weeks ago in New York State Supreme Court against the New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”), claiming that the agency’s rules that prioritize applicants with...more
Call it a conundrum: the passing of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”) allowed New Yorkers 21 years or older to use recreational marijuana legally but provided no legal way to purchase it. The result was...more
Background On August 25, 2022, after weeks of promotion by the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the application window has finally opened for adult-use cannabis dispensary licenses in the Empire State. ...more
With the anticipation of federal marijuana legalization, the cannabis industry rang in 2021 with sky-high equity values and anticipated social justice reforms seemingly imminent. However, differing ideas regarding how to...more
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management hosted a “Get Ready, Get Set,” workshop to provide community members with vital information about the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) and the conditional adult use...more
On April 14, 2022, the Cannabis Control Board approved 52 adult-use conditional cultivation licenses, which means the approved businesses can start growing cannabis for the upcoming adult-use market. Licensees can start...more
On February 22, 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law that will award conditional adult-use licenses to qualifying cultivators and processors who were licensed under New York’s Cannabinoid Hemp Program prior to...more
If you’re a New Yorker or a person who has visited New York recently, you’ve probably seen or heard of stores selling a product or service to consumers and providing cannabis as a “gift” in return. Others – banking on lack of...more
The deadline for municipalities in New York State to choose whether they will allow retail sales of adult use cannabis is rapidly approaching. To date, approximately 25% of the state’s towns, and 30% of villages, have enacted...more
New York’s passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act (“MRTA”) on March 31, 2021, legalized adult-use cannabis in New York State. However, the MRTA only created a framework for the sale, regulation and taxation of...more
The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”) provides towns, villages, and cities an opportunity to opt out of allowing retail dispensaries and on-site consumption licensees to operate within the municipality’s...more
New York’s industry-altering Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act includes an apparent mandate that cannabis retailers enter into, maintain and adhere to a “Labor Peace Agreement” with a labor union in order to legally grow,...more
In a prior legal alert, we explained that under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”), the Legislature afforded towns, villages, and cities an opportunity to opt-out of allowing retail dispensaries and on-site...more
Second in a series on the New York State Cannabis/Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act- The New York State Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), signed into law on March 31, legalized recreational use of marijuana...more
Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis in New York state for residents 21 and older while establishing a new regulatory system under an Office of Cannabis Management. ...more