First legal cannabis sale in NY to happen Dec. 29; state approves new growers and processors

During the Cannabis Control Board’s final meeting of the year, Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander announced New York’s first legal cannabis sale will happen at a Manhattan dispensary run by the nonprofit Housing Works on Dec. 29 – technically meeting the state’s goal of starting legal weed sales before 2023.

“We’re really excited to be able to take this next step,” Alexander said, adding that Housing Works “is going to take their expertise in the retail space and bring it to the start of the cannabis industry and continue to provide necessary job training to those who’ve been impacted by the justice system.”

Housing Works provides services and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness and those afflicted with HIV or AIDS, and runs a network of charitable retail stores.

According to documents Housing Works submitted to Manhattan Community Board 2, the group plans to open the dispensary on the corner of Broadway and Astor Place and operate out of the building’s ground floor and basement.

Dec. 29 will mark the Housing Works Cannabis’ soft launch, and will operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in its first few months, according to plans. Hours will likely extend to 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

After announcing the forthcoming inaugural legal sale, Alexander praised the Empire State for opening a cannabis market in which the first legal weed customers will buy are products grown by local farmers and sold by stores licensed under the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program.

“We cannot be more proud to open the market than we are,” Alexander said. “We set the course nine months ago to execute the Seeding Opportunity Initiative with family farmers across New York growing the first crop of adult-use cannabis, and justice-involved individuals leading the way on the retail side.”

Subscribe to the NY Cannabis Insider newsletter

Last month the CCB approved CAURD licenses for eight nonprofits and 28 individuals. The board was expected to announce a new batch of licensees at this morning’s meeting, but plans apparently changed last minute and the agency said to expect those next licenses to come in January.

CCB members said goodbye to Jen Metzger, who is leaving the board to serve as Ulster County Executive; a position to which she was elected last month.

“Serving on this board has truly been some of the most rewarding and gratifying work I’ve done,” Metzger said. “I look forward to seeing all your continued progress.”

Members also approved conditional licenses for three more cultivators and six processors: