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New York Officials Tout $2.5 Billion In Marijuana Sales, Expansion Of Licensed Businesses And More Since Adult-Use Legalization

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5 months ago

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New York officials have released a series of reports that provide a year-end status update on the state’s medical and adult marijuana markets: sales records, state coffers revenue, license approvals, equity initiatives and more.

All told, retail cannabis sales in New York have topped $2.5 billion since recreational legalization was passed, including $1.6 billion generated since November of last year alone. In addition, licensed showrooms almost doubled from 261 in 2024 to 556 in 2025..

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) said the state “continues to exceed” equity goals, particularly with 55 percent of adult use licenses held by Social and Economic Equity (SEE) businesses. Of these, 50 percent are minorities and 47 percent are women.

The reports also touch on enforcement action to mitigate the illegal market. And last year, OCM said it “conducted 2,017 enforcement actions that resulted in the seizure of more than $20 million worth of illegal cannabis products.”

“New York’s cannabis framework was designed to combine strong regulation with meaningful choice, and this year’s Annual Report demonstrates continued progress toward that goal,” said Jessica Garcia, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB), in a press release. “As the legal market expands, we continue to build an inclusive industry and ensure the benefits of legalization are shared broadly.”

“The launch of initiatives like Community Reinvestment Grants and the CAURD Grant Fund marks a critical step in returning resources to communities disproportionately impacted by the ban while maintaining safeguards that protect consumers and support compliant businesses,” he said.

The OCM annual report also states that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation expanding the state’s medical cannabis program improving patient access and “updating the program framework to better meet the needs of patients across the state.”

The legislation signed by the governor grants reciprocity to out-of-state residents, streamlines the patient certification process and allows adults 18 and older to grow their own cannabis plants for therapeutic use.

“Looking forward, we remain committed to fulfilling MRTA’s vision through licensing, regulatory reform and the support of social equity applicants,” Garcia said in the report. “We have new types of licenses to issue that will provide additional economic opportunities for New Yorkers.”

“We must improve patient access to the medical program and maintain our commitment to work on this in 2026. We will work with OCM to continue to strengthen our enforcement efforts against the illicit market,” he said. “Finally, we invest in building trust with our stakeholders and the public and aim to strengthen our communications and public engagement efforts, especially as they inform our decision-making process.”

Officials too he stated The state has taken in nearly $341 million in marijuana taxes from medical and adult-use sales from April 1, 2023, to November 30, 2025.

“Sales continue to be concentrated in a limited number of high-performing locations,” he says. “On November 30, 2025, the top 10 stores account for 29 percent of statewide sales, the top 25 for 43 percent and the top 50 for nearly 61 percent. The top 50 percent of all operating stores generate about 80 percent of total sales, reflecting advantages of location, brand presence and operational scale.”

Notably, the report bolsters advocates’ argument that regulating, rather than criminalizing, marijuana sales can deter youth use, despite prohibitionist arguments to the contrary. In fact, the percentage of New York high school students who reported using cannabis in the past month dropped from 20 percent in 2013 (before legalization) to 12.5 percent in 2023.

“This Annual Report reflects the market that New Yorkers have built together over the past year. We’ve expanded access to regulated and tested cannabis products, strengthened consumer protections, and continued to advance an equity-focused market framework,” said Susan Filburn, OCM’s executive director, in a press release.

“Exceeding $2.5 billion in adult-use sales is an important milestone, and looking forward to this growth remains responsible, transparent and grounded in public health and safety, while continuing to provide opportunity and reinvestment in the communities most affected by prohibition,” he said. he said.

“OCM remains committed to responsible growth, transparent regulation, and economic opportunity for all New Yorkers. In 2026, OCM will focus on accelerating licensing and market access for equity entrepreneurs, strengthening compliance and enforcement efforts statewide, and expanding consumer education to promote safer cannabis use and confidence in the regulated marketplace, and to strengthen a safer regulated marketplace.”

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

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Meanwhile, given the confusion in the market about temporary license terms, the CCB said it will extend the renewal period for adult conditional use to December 31, 2026.

“This extension provides more time for licensees to secure viable locations and obtain full licensure,” OCM said. “It will also apply to temporary licenses issued between September 9, 2025 and December 30, 2025, ensuring clarity and consistency for all temporary licensees.”

Part of the uncertainty surrounding provisional licensees a the recently identified zoning issue affects more than 100 cannabis businesses Those located too close to public schools or places of worship than permitted by applicable statute. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said she will push the legislature to change the state’s marijuana law to address the problem.

Additionally, both chambers of the New York legislature passed the legislation last year extend the deadline for electronic tax returns for marijuana companiessending the proposal near the governor’s desk.

If signed into law, the measure would give cannabis manufacturers and distributors an extra 30 days to file their tax returns after the end of each quarterly tax year. Currently, companies have 20 days to submit documents, and the legislation would extend it to 50 days.

In July, New York officials announced First round of grants for $5 million program to support retail marijuana businesses for justice-involved people cover startup costs.

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We don’t really deal with a lot of mites because of our IPM program

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21 hours ago

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June 9, 2026

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Flora Farms Pest Management Program it is built to reduce to nothing depending on the harvestso the plant ends up clean. Luke Allenbrand, Flora Farms’ crop leader, leads an integrated pest management program that focuses on prevention. “We don’t honestly deal with a lot of mites because of the IPM program, because of the predatory mites that we’ve put down as a precaution,” says Luke. “It allows us to have a much cleaner garden in the back half.” Preventative work keeps spray volumes relatively low because the curative side of the program rarely needs to be heavy.

“Actually, we are at the lowest number of these sprays that we have. The milliliters that we are using are numbers that do not exist to be a prevention,” says Luke. “But as soon as you see an uptick of those mites or anything, we bring it up to a therapeutic amount, which is still a small milliliter. And as long as you’re on a fast track with it, you see them disappear within 10 days.” The targets are spider mites, which feed on the plant’s THC and terpene production and degrade the flower.

© Flora Farms

Tested solutions
The three products used by the company are derived from agricultural and food use. “We actually apply about three insecticides that are very common around the agricultural and food grade of these products, using a suite of IPM, Venerate and Grandevo, insecticides that will deal with these mites,” says Luke. The application is intermittent rather than constant. “We usually use a 5-day spray cycle so we can have rest periods in between, so it’s not just a consistent density of that spray,” says Luke. He sees progress against mites in the gaps between the successions.

However, at some point, the spraying stops. “We finish the spray cycle by day 40. We usually don’t want to spray anywhere after day 40. At that point, you’re going to damage the product,” says Luke. “And at that point, we’ll put predatory mites in. It really helps us get to that final push point by day 59, 60 of that harvest. So we actually have a lot less of our spray in that late period. So it’s a much better tasting product.” Predatory mites take over the job of spraying, leaving nothing on the flower.

Biological control
Biological control has two forms. “We usually use them, they’re called crazy mites, and honestly, it’s crazy to see,” says Luke. “Actually, I’ve seen some of the ones in a close-up photo kill a bug, some of the cocoons actually drive away, and even attack the spider mites themselves. Very beneficial. Callias are also slow. They’re little bags that we hang on plants and they’re very beneficial to us.” Different predators work at different speeds, which is why the program runs more than one.

Missouri’s testing regime is the context in which growers operate. Each plant is tested for pest control chemicals and must pass before the product goes ahead. “Other crops and other black market shops or smoke shops in Missouri don’t have to worry about the testing we have to do,” Luke says. “Everything we use here is natural. Each of our pest management is a lot of essential oils that fight these mites. Everything we would put on a plant is food grade.” The test covers foreign chemicals, heavy metals, and anything else that an unregulated supply should never consider.

The whole arc is from biology to chemistry and back to biology. “We go from predatory mites to a food-grade spray regimen, and then back to predatory mites at the end. That way, these plants will have time to finish with no chemicals, nothing,” says Luke. “The rest of that life cycle, about 15 to 20 days, is the most natural it will have. No spraying at all during that, just to push predatory mites off that end, so there’s no residual mite damage on those plants.”

For more information:
Flower Farms
florafarmsmo.com

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California Bill To Legalize Marijuana Dispensary Drive-Thru Windows Advances In Senate After Clearing Full Assembly

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21 hours ago

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June 9, 2026

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It has been passed by a California Senate committee and passed by the Assembly bill that would allow marijuana dealers to offer car windows to serve customers.

The measure, which cleared the Senate Business, Careers and Economic Development Committee on a 7-3 vote Monday, says licensed cannabis retailers and micro-businesses with storefronts can sell marijuana products “in a motor vehicle to a customer in a drive-through located on the premises.”

Under Assemblywoman Gail Peller’s (D) AB 2697, cannabis businesses would need permission from the local jurisdictions in which they operate to add a drive-thru.

The sponsor told committee members before the final vote that the bill will “expand access to legal cannabis products while strengthening our ability to compete with the illegal market.”

Annie Aubrey of Chuck’s Wellness Center, a retailer in Placerville, testified that the legislation is “about improving access.”

“A large portion of our customers use cannabis as medicine, including seniors, veterans and people living with chronic conditions that affect mobility, the population that this regulated system seeks to serve,” he said. “For many, even simple tasks like getting out of a vehicle or navigating a retail space can be physically difficult or prohibitive…A drive-thru option removes that barrier, giving patients and consumers access to what they need in a way that’s dignified and consistent with their healthcare needs.”

Amy O’Gorman Jenkins of the California Cannabis Operators Association said the legislation will provide “operational flexibility” in a highly regulated system.

“It doesn’t expand who can access cannabis,” he said. “It allows retailers, with local approval, to serve existing patients and customers more efficiently.”

Jenkins also argued that this measure could improve security.

“Currently, road traction transactions are already allowed. This means that workers regularly have to leave a safe premises while transporting the product, and sometimes they have to deposit cash in parking lots,” he said. “AB 2697 provides an additional mechanism for obtaining product, but requires a fixed and secure transaction point, keeping employees inside and reducing exposure to theft.”

Pellerin, the bill’s sponsor, previously said that “California cannabis retailers lack a common and accessible transaction channel for consumers that so many other retailers in California offer, including fast food, pharmacies, banks and even liquor stores.”

“Cannabis consumers with mobility issues or other disabilities have limited options for obtaining cannabis without having to get out of their vehicles. And while home delivery is legal, there are restrictions on service areas,” he said. “Allowing cannabis sellers to add a secure ride option, if allowed by their local jurisdiction, will improve the consumer experience, increase the security of cannabis sellers and help expand California’s legal cannabis market.”

The California Association of Narcotics Officers opposes the proposal, however, as a representative, Ryan Sherman, testified that it would make it more difficult for dispensary workers to check the IDs of customers who are of legal age or to spot signs of current intoxication at drive-thru windows.

“This bill prioritizes speed of sale over public safety while undermining existing protections designed to prevent illegal sales and protect public safety,” he argued.

Under current policy during the COVID pandemic, dispensaries can already offer street pickup.

The invoice that moving forward in the legislature would mandate that auto sales “be made through a fixed panel security window with a security drawer or similar secure transfer mechanism that is part of a building located within the premises.”

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

California regulators recently approved emergency rule changes to the state’s marijuana licensing process. to make it easier for companies to receive benefits In line with the Trump administration’s latest move to federally regulate medical cannabis.

While Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) recently He took credit for helping lead the state’s push to legalize marijuana and discussed his limited experience with cannabis use.

In October, however, Newsom vetoed a bill that would have It allowed micro-marijuana companies to ship medicinal cannabis directly to patients Through common carriers like FedEx and UPS, he said the proposal would be “too burdensome and complex to manage.”

Newsom signed a bill earlier this month streamlining research into marijuana and psychedelics.

In September, the governor also signed a measure pause on the recent tax increase on marijuana products.

Separately, the state attorney general says Indian tribes cannot independently participate in the marijuana trade with licensed cannabis businesses without obtaining their own commercial license from state officials.

California officials have recently been rewarded nearly $30 million in grants for marijuana-focused academic research projects.

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Concert Series Specials launched for state medical cannabis patients

Published

2 days ago

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June 8, 2026

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Post Dispensary, Kentucky’s first medical cannabis dispensary, is connecting with patients in Owensboro, Henderson, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Madisonville, Hopkinsville and surrounding areas by aligning unique specials with the region’s summer concert calendar. Located at 300 N Main St. in Beaver Dam, minutes from major highways connecting these vibrant cities.

This summer, The Post Dispensary is offering special pricing and incentives for Concert Series Events at the Beaver Dam Amphitheater, SPARKS in the Park 4th of July celebration and surrounding events, such as Owensboro’s ROMP Festival (June 24-27, 2026). Patients can stop by before or after shows for big savings.

“We’re more than just a booty,” said a dispensary representative. “From Owensboro’s world-class ROMP Festival to Beaver Dam’s Amphitheater events, we’re making it convenient and budget-friendly for patients in Owensboro, Henderson, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Hartford and beyond to combine our love of music with compassionate care and an affordable product.”

The Post Dispensary hosts regular Patient Guidance events on the second Saturday of every month. These units have professionals on hand to assess patients and issue written certificates at low cost, application support and expert consultations in a welcoming environment. The next Patient Drive aligns perfectly with summer travel patterns, making it easy for patients from Owensboro, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Madisonville, Henderson, Madisonville and surrounding towns to plan a trip to Beaver Dam that combines care with community and entertainment.

For more information:
Post-Dispensary
thepostdispensary.com/










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