Over 100 NY Pot Shops Face Closure Due to State Miscalculation
URGENT UPDATE: Over 100 legal pot shops across New York are at risk of closure or relocation after state cannabis officials revealed a significant miscalculation regarding their proximity to schools. Dispensaries were given the green light to operate only if they were situated at least 500 feet away from educational institutions, but officials now confirm that many shops are too close, triggering an urgent crisis for their owners.
The fallout from this blunder has left dispensary owners scrambling. Assemblyman Ed Ra criticized the Office of Cannabis Management, stating, “It’s just been problem after problem. We put a provision in to make sure they weren’t located too close to schools. That is a very basic thing, and the fact they even couldn’t do that properly is unacceptable.”
Local officials are equally frustrated. North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer Desena expressed deep concern, emphasizing, “This was put into the law. Five hundred feet was supposed to protect students. And they didn’t take it seriously. They didn’t even measure it right.” Critics argue this oversight could expose children to marketing for marijuana, raising urgent safety concerns.
Governor Kathy Hochul has publicly expressed her anger over the situation. In a statement, she indicated her administration is “taking immediate action to support cannabis store owners impacted” by the oversight, which she attributed to “previous agency leadership.” Hochul confirmed that her office will work on solutions to rectify the situation swiftly.
Proposed legislation could provide financial relief to affected dispensary owners. The amendment aims to “grandfather” in those businesses that were approved under previous guidelines, ensuring they are not penalized for the state’s errors. Sid Patel, a dispensary owner not directly affected by the miscalculation, remarked, “A lot of folks have invested millions of dollars in the industry, and if they are being relocated, it will be a tremendous economic burden.”
If the state’s legislature does not approve these changes, dispensaries that violate the school distance requirement will face non-renewal of their licenses.
As this situation continues to develop, the future of over 100 dispensaries hangs in the balance, with significant implications for the cannabis industry and its stakeholders across New York. The urgency for a resolution is palpable, and all eyes are on state officials to act swiftly in support of these businesses.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.
