Cannabis dispensaries in NYC require a state OCM license and must comply with local zoning. NYC Zoning Resolution allows dispensaries in commercial (C) and manufacturing (M) districts. Dispensaries cannot be within 500 feet of a school or 200 feet of a house of worship. NYC opted in to allow adult-use retail sales.
The MRTA allows municipalities to opt out of adult-use cannabis retail and on-site consumption, but NYC opted in. Cannabis retail dispensaries require a license from the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Under the NYC Zoning Resolution, dispensaries are permitted as-of-right in commercial districts (C1 through C8) and manufacturing districts (M1 through M3) where retail uses are allowed. Residential districts prohibit dispensaries. State law requires a minimum 500-foot buffer from schools (K-12) and 200-foot buffer from houses of worship. In NYC's dense urban environment, these buffers significantly limit available locations, particularly in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. The OCM prioritizes CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) licenses for social equity applicants. NYC Cannabis Regulatory Commission coordinates with OCM on local enforcement. Operating hours and signage are regulated by OCM, and dispensaries must comply with NYC's sign regulations for the zoning district.
Operating without a license: criminal offense under Cannabis Law. Violating buffer zones: license revocation or denial. Local zoning violations: DOB enforcement. Selling to minors: license suspension and criminal penalties.
New York, NY
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See how New York's dispensary zoning rules stack up against other locations.
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