The New York State Cannabis Control Board today approved 36 new adult-use cannabis licenses, dozens of license renewals, received key updates related to market activity, social and economic equity, and seed-to-sale implementation, and considered actions to strengthen regulatory oversight and operational efficiency across the state's cannabis industry.
The meeting included remarks from Susan Filburn, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, who emphasized the agency's continued focus on stable growth, accountability, and protecting public health. "New York's cannabis market continues to demonstrate both momentum and purpose," said Filburn. "Each approval, regulation, and programmatic update reflects our commitment to building a market that is safe, transparent, and positioned for long-term success." The February meeting reflects ongoing progress toward a fully regulated cannabis marketplace that supports licensees, workers, and New York communities.
As part of the meeting, the Cannabis Control Board approved 36 new adult-use cannabis licenses, bringing the total number of adult-use licenses issued statewide to 2,110. The newly approved licenses include four adult-use cultivator licenses, 13 adult-use processor licenses, 17 adult-use retail dispensary licenses, and two CAURD licenses. "New York is shaping a cannabis market with staying power," said Jessica Garcia, Chair of the Cannabis Control Board. "Each approval advances an ecosystem grounded in fairness, responsibility, and long-term opportunity across the supply chain, and in New York's communities."
The Office of Cannabis Management provided a high-level update on the phased rollout of New York's statewide seed-to-sale tracking system and upcoming milestones for retail item-level identification. The update reaffirmed a continued focus on licensee onboarding, data accuracy, and system stability as implementation moves forward.
OCM also shared an update on its Workforce Composition Survey, an ongoing effort to better understand workforce conditions across New York's cannabis and hemp industries. The survey is intended to inform data-driven policy decisions, workforce development strategies, and resources that reflect real conditions faced by licensees statewide. The Office announced an extension of the survey deadline to Friday, February 13, 2026, allowing additional time for participation. Responses will remain confidential and reported only in aggregate.
A market and social equity update showed continued strength and early momentum in 2026 for New York's legal cannabis market. Retail sales reached $1.69 billion in 2025, with $127.1 million in sales recorded so far in 2026. Retail activity remains robust, with approximately 582 dispensaries now open statewide and 18 new stores opening so far this year. The 287 stores that opened in 2025 accounted for roughly 40 percent of December 2025 retail sales, demonstrating the growing contribution of newer market participants.
As of January 2026, New York has issued 2,110 active adult-use licenses, including 239 cultivators, 229 distributors, 319 microbusinesses, 514 processors, and 484 retail dispensaries. Of all licenses issued statewide, 57 percent have been awarded to Social and Economic Equity applicants, and the state currently has 324 active CAURD licensees. "These numbers reflect important progress, but they are not an endpoint," said L. Simone Washington, Chief Equity Officer of the Office of Cannabis Management. "Our responsibility is to continually evaluate what is working, address gaps where they exist, and ensure that equity commitments translate into real access, meaningful participation, and fair treatment across the market."
Among the 36 adult-use applications approved at today's meeting, 53 percent are from Social and Economic Equity applicants, including Community Disproportionately Impacted, minority-owned, women-owned, and dually designated businesses. All Social and Economic Equity approvals in this cohort are processor licenses. To date, there are 582 legal cannabis dispensaries open for business across the Empire State.
