The New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) held its December meeting to approve new adult-use cannabis licenses, share market and social equity updates, and highlight continued 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, the December CCB meeting reflected continued growth, oversight, and long-term market health, reinforcing New York's commitment to a safe, equitable, and fully regulated cannabis industry.
During the meeting, the CCB approved 38 new adult-use licenses, bringing the total number of adult-use licenses issued statewide to 2,063. Of the licenses approved in December, 44 percent were issued to Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants, underscoring the State's continued focus on equitable participation as the market matures. The newly approved licenses included two Adult-Use Cultivator Licenses, four Adult-Use Distributor Licenses, five Adult-Use Microbusiness Licenses, 13 Adult-Use Processor Licenses, 10 Adult-Use Retail Dispensary Licenses, and four Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary Final Licenses.
"Over the past year, the Office of Cannabis Management has made meaningful progress in establishing the cannabis marketplace," said Filburn. "That progress has been driven by our commitment to supporting this emerging industry. We remain committed to protecting public health and safety, advancing an equity-driven legal market, and supporting a stable industry that contributes to New York's economy."
"Our focus remains on steady progress and responsible regulation," said Jessica García, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board. "This month's approvals reflect the Board's commitment to equity, compliance, and long-term market stability. Each decision we make is guided by the responsibility to protect consumers, support licensees, and serve communities across New York State."
OCM also provided an update on the transition to New York's statewide seed-to-sale tracking system, which is being implemented in partnership with Metrc. To help reduce implementation costs, Metrc is providing 20 million retail item unique identifiers at no cost to licensed processors. OCM adjusted key deadlines as well, requiring Metrc credentialing by December 17 and extending the deadline for retailers to enter existing inventory until January 12, 2026. Once fully implemented, the system is expected to enhance product transparency, strengthen supply-chain oversight, and support consumer safety. OCM will continue to offer training and technical assistance to licensees. Additional information on 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 sustained consumer demand, with retail sales increasing month over month. OCM expects the State to close out 2025 with approximately $1.65 billion in legal cannabis sales. The week of November 23 through 29 marked the highest sales week on record, driven in part by a strong Green Wednesday that generated approximately $2.2 million in incremental 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 increased 7.1 percent compared to the prior week.
As competition continues to expand across the supply chain, prices have declined across all product categories. At the same time, sales per store have remained stable, indicating that licensed retailers continue to capture consumer demand despite pricing pressures.
Equity remains a defining feature of the market's growth. Of the 38 adult-use licenses approved in December, 18 were awarded to SEE applicants, accounting for 44 percent of the month's approvals. Across the full adult-use market, 57 percent of all licenses issued statewide are held by SEE businesses, including Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran, Community Disproportionately Impacted, and Distressed Farmer businesses.
SEE representation remains strong throughout the supply chain, accounting for 38 percent of cultivators, 46 percent of processors, 39 percent of distributors, 58 percent of microbusinesses, and 85 percent of retail dispensaries.
To date, there are 545 legal dispensaries open for business across the Empire State. A full list of New York's licensed, operational adult-use cannabis retailers is available online at the link here.
