Overview

• The New York State Office of Cannabis Management has identified that it measured the 500-foot buffer from school entrance doors rather than property lines, placing 152 licensed or approved dispensaries in violation.
• The agency has warned that licenses for these shops will not be renewed unless lawmakers amend the law or grant waivers for sites approved under the previous guidance.
• Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $15 million fund to cover up to $250,000 per business in relocation and startup costs for affected dispensaries.
• A proposed legislative measure would grandfather in dispensaries approved under the miscalculated rule, shielding them from closure or forced moves.
• The error has reignited criticism of OCM oversight and highlighted persistent challenges in stabilizing New York’s legal cannabis market.