ALBANY, N.Y. (WENY) – The New York Cannabis Control Board has approved 52 adult use cannabis cultivator licenses across the state. These are the first adult-use cannabis licenses issued in the state.

The approved licenses are from a pool of more than 150 that have been submitted following the March 15th opening of the online portal.

“New York’s farms have been the backbone of our state’s economy since before the American Revolution, and now, New York’s farms will be at the center of the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation,” Governor Hochul said. “I’m proud to announce the first adult-use cannabis cultivation licenses in the state, and I’m proud of the work the Office of Cannabis Management and the Cannabis Control Board are doing to get adult-use cannabis sales up and running as fast as possible without compromising our mission to uplift communities and individuals most impacted by the past century of cannabis prohibition.”

The Office of Cannabis Management will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and will work to get them approved quickly.

The Seeding Opportunity Initiative, which was approved back in March, helps business owners to make adult-use cannabis sales in the state.