New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced Aug. 11 that regulators will start accepting adult-use cannabis dispensary license applications Aug. 25, with applicants with prior cannabis-related convictions first in line to receive conditional licenses.

Those who have a close relative with a cannabis-related conviction will also be prioritized in the licensing process, and applicants are also required to have experience owning and operating a "qualifying" business.

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“Today’s announcement brings us to the precipice of legal, licensed cannabis sales in New York State,” Cannabis Control Board (CCB) Chair Tremaine Wright said in a public statement. “With the Seeding Opportunity Initiative, New York has affirmed our commitment to making sure the first sales are conducted by those harmed by prohibition. We’re writing a new playbook for what an equitable launch of a cannabis industry looks like, and hope future states follow our lead.”

The OCM has published a resources page on its website to help applicants begin preparing their documentation.

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“In just two weeks my team will start accepting applications for adult-use retail cannabis dispensaries,” OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander said in a public statement. “This is a monumental step in establishing the most equitable, diverse, and accessible cannabis industry in the nation. We’ve worked to make this application as simple as possible for all interested applicants, and I cannot emphasize it enough that you do not need any legal expertise to fill this application out.”

The application window will close on Sept. 26.