The haze over where marijuana can be legally bought and sold in New York became clearer on Tuesday as most localities decided they’re all in on retail sales and consumption lounge licenses, state data showed.
Just 10% of cities across the state and about a third of municipalities have opted out of all cannabis sales in their jurisdictions before the Dec. 31 deadline, New York cannabis regulators said Tuesday.
Still, regulators are focusing on communities that are a part of the program and hoping that those who voluntarily withdrew from the program will reconsider.
“We’re really encouraged by the energy building around New York’s forthcoming adult-use cannabis market,” said Cannabis Control Board Chair Tremaine Wright. “New Yorkers will have an accessible adult-use cannabis market poised to generate billions of dollars in sales as well as create thousands of jobs.”
Where did communities opt out?
Last year, localities were given the option to pass a law to withhold either both or one of the two licenses under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, the state’s cannabis law that was approved in March.
But communities could only do so before Dec. 31. And they could not opt out of marijuana as a whole. Investors could still get cultivation, delivery and other types of marijuana licenses in that jurisdiction.
A total of 600 villages, towns and cities chose to opt out, with nearly all of them deciding to forgo both licenses. Counties with a notably high number of municipalities that have opted out include Jefferson, Westchester, Suffolk, Steuben, Nassau, Orange and Dutchess. [Read more at lohud.]
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