Cannabis shops may be closed in New York due to zoning issues

• Nearly 100 cannabis shops may be closed due to zoning violations.
• Business owners are waiting for a legislative decision to avoid relocation.
• The state allocated funds to assist in relocating shops that have been affected by zoning.

Since New York began licensing cannabis shops for recreational use about three years ago, the state has employed a simple tactic to ensure compliance with the law regarding the distance between shops and local schools: measuring from the doors of the shop to the doors of the school.

However, officials recently acknowledged that they misinterpreted the law and the zoning measurements. Now, nearly 100 cannabis shops find themselves in a precarious position, waiting for legislative changes to avoid being forced to relocate.

This news has come as a shock to business owners, said Osbert Ordunya, who owns the shop "The Cannabis Place," which is located near a daycare. He noted that the implementation of this policy is a complete failure in governance.

The recognition of zoning violations has become a recurring issue within the framework of the problematic legalization program of cannabis in New York, which is linked to legal challenges and widespread enforcement.

Business owners discussed the problem last month with the Office of Cannabis Management, which acknowledged that zoning violations typically occur between the property line of a school and not from its entrance, in order to comply with the distance requirement of 500 feet (152 meters).

The zoning issue has impacted approximately 450 cannabis shops in the state. About 60 of them have obtained licenses under the zoning system, primarily in New York, while nearly 40 shops have licenses but have not yet opened.

In addition, over 50 other businesses have submitted applications for licenses under the improper zoning system and are waiting for further approvals. The state has allocated funds to assist applicants with relocation, providing up to $250,000.

In the meantime, some shops reported that they may remain open while they submit an application for license renewal.

Regulators are urging lawmakers to find a permanent solution that would allow shops to remain in place, although this is not guaranteed. The state legislative body will reconvene in January.

At that time, business owners say they are compelled to operate in a precarious situation. Jillian Dragutsky, who opened the shop "Yerba Buena" in Brooklyn a few months ago, expressed concern that this issue poses a threat to the ability of the shop to engage in banking operations, obtain insurance, and purchase goods.

In the Office of Cannabis, it was noted that businesses can obtain "proof of a valid license or a letter of good standing for conducting business."

An internal audit of the cannabis office conducted last year revealed significant problems, including a lack of qualification for leadership and changes in licensing rules, at a time when state leaders promised administrative reform.

Governor Kathy Hochul, who previously called the program "catastrophic," highlighted the problem of proximity to schools as "a significant zoning issue" and urged lawmakers to find a legislative solution.

Tags: USA/Politics