New York Office of Cannabis Management gives licensing priority to social and economic equity applicants including justice-involved individuals, minority and women-owned businesses, distressed farmers, and service-disabled veterans operating in Westchester.
New York Cannabis Law Section 87 directs OCM to issue at least 50 percent of adult-use licenses to social and economic equity applicants. Initial Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) licenses prioritized New Yorkers with prior cannabis convictions and qualifying family members. Subsequent equity priorities include minority and women-owned business enterprises, distressed farmers, and service-disabled veterans. Westchester applicants benefit from this state framework regardless of which municipality they apply in. The Cannabis Social Equity Investment Fund supports startup capital and real estate. Equity applicants receive priority application review and reduced fees during licensing windows.
Misrepresentation of equity status triggers application denial, license revocation, and forfeiture of any equity-tied investments.
See how New Rochelle's social equity licensing rules stack up against other locations.
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