New York Cannabis Law requires adult-use cannabis dispensaries to maintain minimum distances from schools and houses of worship, and Buffalo applies state OCM siting rules without adopting tighter local buffers.
Under NY Cannabis Law and Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) regulations adopted in 2022, adult-use retail dispensaries cannot be located within 500 feet of a school grounds or 200 feet of a house of worship. Buffalo did not opt out of retail dispensaries in 2021, so OCM siting rules apply citywide alongside Buffalo Green Code zoning districts. Applicants must show compliant measurements on site plans submitted to OCM. The Cannabis Control Board (CCB) reviews each application and can deny licenses that fail buffer rules even if zoning otherwise permits the use.
Operating a dispensary inside a 500-foot school buffer or 200-foot worship buffer can trigger OCM license denial, suspension, revocation, and civil penalties.
See how Buffalo's buffer zones rules stack up against other locations.
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