Cannabis News

State OCM approves 38 new adult-use licenses

Published

6 months ago

December 22, 2025

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The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) held its December meeting to approve new adult cannabis licenses, market share and social equity updates, and highlight ongoing investments in community reinvestment, education and public health initiatives.

The meeting included remarks from Susan Filburn, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), who outlined the agency’s focus on stability, accountability and effective governance as the market enters its next phase of development. Overall, December’s CCB meeting reflected continued growth, oversight and long-term market health, reinforcing New York’s commitment to a safe, fair and fully regulated cannabis industry.

At the meeting, the CCB approved 38 new adult licenses, bringing the total number of adult licenses issued across the state to 2,063. Of the licenses approved in December, 44 percent were granted to Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants, emphasizing that as the market matures the State continues to have an equitable share. The newly approved licenses include two Adult Use cultivation licenses, four adult distributor licenses, five adult microbusiness licenses, 13 adult processor licenses, 10 adult retail dispensary licenses and the latest four adult conditional retail store licenses.

“Over the past year, the Office of Cannabis Management has made significant progress in establishing a market for cannabis,” Filburn said. “This progress has been driven by our commitment to support this emerging industry. We remain committed to protecting public health and safety, advancing a legal marketplace driven by equity, and supporting a stable industry that contributes to New York’s economy.”

“We remain focused on continued progress and responsible regulation,” said Jessica García, president of the Cannabis Control Commission. “This month’s approvals reflect the Board’s commitment to fairness, compliance and long-term market stability. Every decision we make is guided by our responsibilities to protect consumers, support licensees and serve communities throughout New York State.”

OCM also provided an update on the transition to the New York statewide seed sales tracking system being implemented in partnership with Metrc. To help reduce implementation costs, Metrc provides 20 million unique retail item identifiers at no cost to licensed processors. OCM also adjusted key deadlines, requiring Metrc certification by December 17 and extending the deadline for vendors to access existing inventory to January 12, 2026. Once fully implemented, the system is expected to improve product transparency, strengthen supply chain oversight, and protect consumer safety. OCM will continue to provide training and technical support to licensees. Additional information about New York’s seed-to-sale system is available at cannabis.ny.gov/seed-to-sale.

New York’s regulated cannabis market continues to show steady consumer demand, with retail sales increasing month over month. OCM expects the state to close 2025 with about $1.65 billion in legal cannabis sales. The week of November 23-29 was the largest sales week on record, driven in part by a strong Green Wednesday, which generated approximately $2.2 million in increased sales. This represented a 24.5 percent increase in sales and a 56.1 percent increase in units sold compared to Green Wednesday 2024. Overall sales for the week were up 7.1 percent compared to the previous week.

As competition continues to spread throughout the supply chain, prices have fallen across all product categories. At the same time, sales per store have remained stable, indicating that licensed retailers continue to capture consumer demand despite price pressure.

Equity continues to be a distinguishing feature of market growth. Of the 38 adult-use licenses approved in December, 18 were issued to SEE applicants, 44 percent of the month’s approvals. Across the adult-use market, 57 percent of all licenses issued statewide are held by SEE companies, including minorities, women, service-disabled veterans, disproportionately impacted communities and distressed farmers.

SEE representation remains strong across the supply chain, with 38 percent of growers, 46 percent of processors, 39 percent of distributors, 58 percent of micro-enterprises and 85 percent of retail dispensaries.

To date, there are 545 legal dispensaries open for business throughout the Empire State. A complete list of licensed and operational adult-use cannabis dealers in New York is available at the link here.

Source: New York State Office of Cannabis Management

Related Topics:adultuse approves licenses OCM State

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Cannabis News

cbdMD welcomes White House call for fair treatment of hemp-derived products

Published

18 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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cbdMD welcomes the Administration’s call for Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products under federal law and calls for immediate action to revise hemp regulations to ensure fair treatment of hemp products under federal law.

In a letter to congressional leadership this week, the White House Office of Management and Budget identified hemp reform as a priority strongly supported by the Administration. The petition calls on Congress to ensure fair treatment of hemp-derived products by maintaining access to appropriate full-spectrum CBD products, and by maintaining Congress’ intent to reduce products that pose health risks. The administration also urged Congress to pass a responsible federal framework or at least extend the current implementation period to give lawmakers time to get policy right. The request builds on the president’s previous public statements urging lawmakers to protect access to full-spectrum CBD products that millions of Americans rely on.

“We are encouraged to see the administration so clearly championing the responsible, scientific hemp products that consumers depend on every day,” said Ronan Kennedy, CEO of cbdMD. “cbdMD has always believed that the future of this category is built on quality, transparency, and clear rules that separate them from bad actors. A federal framework that protects consumer access, promotes safety, and provides certainty to companies that provide certainty is what this industry and the people it serves deserve. We applaud the policymakers who are working to achieve this outcome.”

“We believe CbdMD is purpose-built for this next phase of the market,” added Kennedy. “Our focus remains on serving our customers with reliable and effective products, supporting responsible regulation and building long-term value for our shareholders as the category continues to evolve. Along the way, we will continue to evaluate the opportunities this evolving environment holds.”

For more information:
cbdMD
cbdmd.com/

Cannabis News

Applications For Missouri Marijuana Microbusiness Licenses Will Open Next Month

Published

18 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also provide a step-by-step guide. Anyone could sit down and make the app. I don’t think it’s challenging.”

By Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent

Application window win one of Missouri’s 77 micro-business marijuana licenses through a lottery selection it will be open from July 13 to 27.

The selection lottery is scheduled for Sept. 9, and the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation expects to issue licenses in December, according to a press release issued Monday.

Microbusinesses are marijuana facility licenses issued to entities and individuals designed to allow marginalized or underrepresented people to legally participate in the marijuana market.

Lesley Turek, the division’s capital manager, has been traveling the state this month to educate people about the application process.

“I really feel that microenterprise graduates are, first and foremost, a community of people who help each other,” he said. “They’re the ones who are driving this program forward, so I’m looking forward to meeting new people and sharing as much as I can about the program. It’s a great program.”

Much of what is being worked on is the new rules that went into effect at the end of May…In 2024 the proposed cannabis regulators will remove a large number of licences Because of unconstitutional property deals.

The new rules, he said, allow regulators to conduct extensive scrutiny before licensing, rather than after. Furthermore, they give a more in-depth explanation of what it means to “have and operate the majority” of the License, which is a requirement in the Constitution.

Regulators are mandated to communicate directly with majority owners and require applicants to complete a compliance course before applying and after receiving a license.

The microbusiness program was passed by voters in the 2022 constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana.

In Missouri, there are seven categories in which people can qualify for a micro-business license, ranging from lower income or living in an area considered poor, to past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.

Applicants pay a $1,500 application fee if not selected. The Missouri Lottery will select 77 license applicants to open dispensaries or cultivation facilities. The goal is to fill the remaining gaps in the minimum 144 micro-business licenses mandated by the Constitution.

Turek believes the application is relatively simple and something people can complete on their own, unlike the much more complicated application for comprehensive licenses.

“We have a lot of tutorials, and we also offer a step-by-step guide,” he said. “Anyone can sit down and do the app. I don’t think it’s a challenge.”

The part that most people often don’t understand is everything that comes with owning a marijuana facility.

“It’s very expensive, it’s very regulated, and so it’s challenging,” he said. “I want to make sure people have a clear understanding beforehand so they can make a good decision whether they want to apply for this program.”

A big part of his presentation was that the majority of the licenses should be owned by and eligible people. They must have more than 50 percent of the authority to direct the decisions made with the license.

“It’s more than a percentage of ownership,” he said. “It’s really about being able to have that control over it.”

It also talks about the designated contact, and why in the new rule the regulators will require that the designated contact be the applicant or the eligible person with the majority of ownership.

The designated liaison role was conceived as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees.

Instead, state regulators discovered it many named contacts have kept real applicants in the dark about business and licensing. Applicants are locked into agreements that limit their voting power and profits in the business.

That’s why the state now requires pre-application training, a three-video online course to ensure applicants understand “potentially predatory practices,” regulators said in response to public comments during the rulemaking process.

The press release It says those who need help with eligibility requirements or application forms can contact the facility’s application services (email protected).

Educational dissemination events for micro-enterprises

Personal forums:
June 22 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – Kansas City

Webinars:
June 24 – from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
June 29 – from 18:00 to 20:00

Registration is required for in-person and virtual sessions. Interested participants can register at Microenterprise education. Additional information on the microenterprise program is available here cannabis.mo.gov.

Those requiring assistance with eligibility requirements or application forms may contact Facilities Application Services at (email protected).

This story was first published by the Missouri Independent.

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Cannabis News

RAND estimates Indiana adult-use cannabis could yield $180M in annual revenue

Published

2 days ago

June 28, 2026

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Two new RAND reports commissioned by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation outline the policy options and financial commitments facing Indiana as the state debates whether to change its cannabis laws amid restrictions across the country.

Reports show that 44% of Indiana residents live within 50 miles of a licensed dispensary in a neighboring state, and 96% live within 100 miles, as three of Indiana’s four states have legalized adult-use cannabis. At the same time, intoxicating hemp products containing the same psychoactive compound as marijuana are available at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores throughout Indiana with limited oversight.

Cannabis use in Indiana has doubled in the past decade, with a significant increase among adults 26 and older. RAND estimates that 1.3 million Hoosiers used cannabis in 2024 and spent $1.8 billion on marijuana products that year. Indiana recorded more than 13,000 cannabis-related arrests in 2024, with more than 90% for possession and more than 75% for non-cannabis related charges. The state spends $10 million to $20 million annually on cannabis law enforcement.

Rather than recommending a specific policy, the RAND reports outline four broad options: maintaining prohibition, reducing criminal penalties for possession, legalizing medical cannabis, or legalizing the adult recreational use market. Legalizing adult-use cannabis would generate about $180 million in annual state revenue, roughly 1 percent of the state’s general fund, well below some previous projections and less than half of the $385 million in combined cigarette and alcohol tax revenue Indiana will collect in 2025, according to the Indiana Department of Revenue.

Legalization would also entail significant upfront costs, and ongoing regulatory costs could reach the low tens of millions of dollars annually, outweighing the savings from reduced criminal justice spending. RAND identifies 14 policy considerations important to establishing legal markets, each with its own public health and state economic implications.