New York City Opens its First Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
On February 7, 2023, the first legal recreational marijuana dispensary in New York City opened its doors.[0] Legally Rooted, located on 6th Street, celebrated the grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony, ushering in what is expected to be one of the most profitable cannabis markets in the country.[0]
This launch comes a year after the state legalized marijuana for adults 21 and older and follows the issuance of cannabis-specific pardons by the president in October 2022.[1] Thousands of people with federal criminal records for simple marijuana possession are eligible for a pardon and can look forward to improved access to employment, housing, education, and more.[1]
The ninth committee to pass a bill that permits recreational cannabis is the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee.[2] Republican Pam Altendorf of Red Wing and D-F-L Representative Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids both provide insight into the data surrounding cannabis use in states that have legalized it, emphasizing the need to keep cannabis away from young people with child-proof packaging and labels.[2]
This year, Marijuana Moment is monitoring numerous cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in both state legislatures and Congress.[3] Those interested in staying up to date on the progress of these bills can view the Bill Tracker for detailed information.[4]
As more states continue to legalize cannabis, it is important to stay informed about all the news and resources available. Medical cannabis programs, oversight of the medical cannabis program by the dept. of health, and more can be found with additional resources.[5]
0. “Cannabis News | Cannabis Blog | Herban Creative” herbancreativenj.com, 21 Feb. 2023, https://herbancreativenj.com/cannabis-news
1. “Presidential Pardons for Federal Cannabis Possession Convictions …” communitynewspapers.com, 21 Feb. 2023, https://communitynewspapers.com/featured/presidential-pardons-for-federal-cannabis-possession-convictions-still-unavailable/
2. “Recreational cannabis passes another MN House committee | News …” www.willmarradio.com, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.willmarradio.com/news/recreational-cannabis-passes-another-mn-house-committee/article_abdf4658-aec4-11ed-8550-f78f2b27cd1a.html
3. “New Biden exec order touts cannabis actions (Newsletter: February …” www.marijuanamoment.net, 21 Feb. 2023, https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-biden-exec-order-touts-cannabis-actions-newsletter-february-20-2023/
4. “Current News Archives – The Cannabis Alliance” thecannabisalliance.us, 21 Feb. 2023, https://thecannabisalliance.us/news/
5. “Consumer Protection Warning – Holland Cannabis Company …” ccb.vermont.gov, 21 Feb. 2023, https://ccb.vermont.gov/consumer-protection-warning-holland-cannabis-company
