Step 3: Choose your license
The New York State Retail Dispensary license allows you to:
Buy cannabis from licensed distributors or microbusinesses
Sell cannabis from a storefront to customers
Deliver cannabis to customers aged 21
You may also be able to open a space beside your dispensary for customers to consume cannabis.
How much does a cannabis Retail Dispensary license cost in New York?
A Retail Dispensary license costs $7,000, or $3,500 if you qualify for SEE. It is valid for two years.
Where can I open my cannabis dispensary in New York?
You can see a map of all cannabis dispensaries in New York here.
Some New York counties have banned cannabis dispensaries. Ask your local county board if your area allows dispensaries before applying with the state.
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Your dispensary cannot be:
On the same road as a school
Within 500 feet of a school building
Within 200 feet of a house of worship
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Your dispensary cannot be within 1,000 feet of another dispensary.
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Your dispensary cannot be within 2,000 feet of another dispensary.
Can I engage in other cannabis business with my Retail Dispensary license?
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If you have a Retail Dispensary license,, and any of your business owners or TPIs, cannot have:
A Cultivator, Processor, Distributor, or Microbusiness cannabis license.
Financial interest in any business that cultivates, processes, or wholesale distributes cannabis.
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You may hold up to three Retail Dispensary licenses.
Can I open a cannabis lounge with my Retail Dispensary license?
A Retail Dispensary license allows you to open a Limited Retail Consumption Facility — a space for customers to consume the cannabis that they bought at your dispensary. You must follow these rules:
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No customer or employee under the age of 21 may enter your consumption site
You cannot charge an entry fee to your consumption site, unless a ticketed event is taking place.
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Your consumption site must be a separate space on the same premises as your retail site, or in the premises directly next to your retail site.
Your consumption site cannot be:
Within 500 feet of a school.
Within 200 feet of a house of worship.
Charge a fee for entrance, unless a ticketed event is taking place.
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Inside the consumption site, you cannot:
Sell any cannabis products.
Prepare any cannabis products (including rolling) for customers.
Advertise any cannabis products
If you want your dispensary to have a cannabis consumption lounge, you must pay $3,000 for a consumption site license. This fee is reduced to $1,500 if you qualify for SEE. This cost is in addition to the Retail Dispensary license fee listed above.
If your dispensary is on the same road as a public housing facility, and within 200 feet of its entrance, then you qualify for getting your license fee waived. This means you can get a cannabis consumption site license for free (excluding the cost of your dispensary license).
Some New York counties have banned cannabis consumption sites. Ask your county board if you area allows consumption sites before applying with the state.