Cannabis Licensing

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The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) licenses the growth and sale of cannabis.

This includes:

Cultivators
Processors
Distributors
Dispensaries

You must apply for a license if you want to grow or sell cannabis. You can apply through a retail dispensary.

You cannot have both of the following at the same time:

Cultivation license
Retail adult-use cannabis license

In addition, licensed dispensaries cannot:

Sell tobacco products
Operate within 500 feet and on the same block of any building that is exclusively used as a school
Operate within 200 feet and on the same block of a house of worship

OCM is now accepting applications for the following licenses:

Adult Use Cultivator
Adult Use Processor
Adult Use Distributor
Adult Use Retail
Microbusiness

You can submit your application online using the New York Business Express (NYBE). Sign in or create an NY.gov account to access NYBE.

Visit cannabis.ny.gov/licensing for the latest information. Email licensing@ocm.ny.gov for help.

Patients can consume and cultivate cannabis if approved by a certified New York State health care provider. The legislation also allows people with a larger list of medical conditions to access medical marijuana and increase the number of caregivers allowed per patient.

If you are a patient and your certification expires, you can speak with your certifying health care provider and they will issue you a new, updated patient certification if appropriate.

If you are a New York State licensed practitioner, you can learn how to certify patients for medical cannabis.

Patients and providers can get more information online.

Learn more about the Medical Cannabis Program.