The state will allow its first cannabis stores to fulfill orders through delivery as brick-and-mortar stores are gradually introduced.
Many of New York’s first legal herbal dispensaries will serve customers by delivery, not storefronts, when adult use sales initially begin at the end of this month. On Friday, December 9, the New York Office of Cannabis Administration shared guidelines for adult Conditional Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license winners who plan to utilize delivery.
All CAURD license winners can obtain approval from the Office of Cannabis Administration to begin deliveries to customers. The delivery option should stimulate the market, “with a model that will help them compete while providing options to licensed entrepreneurs as they build new adult cannabis businesses,” according to the OCM publication.
“By quickly commencing sales with delivery, we are giving this first group of licensees the opportunity to develop and grow their businesses while providing New York cannabis consumers with tested products they can trust, protecting public health and keeping cannabis away from those under the age of 21,” said Chris Alexander, CEO. OCM, in a statement last week. “We look forward to getting sales up and running before the end of the year and meeting consumers wherever they are.”
Here’s what New York weed delivery laws will allow
last weekAlexander said at a general meeting that delivery is the best temporary solution to get the new stores running while the brick-and-mortar stores are being fitted out. The temporary delivery authorization will apply to all licensed retail dispensaries. All deliveries will be subject to general health and safety rules.
The Office of Cannabis Administration shared the following guidelines with Leafly via email:
- Retail licensees to secure a warehouse from which deliveries can be fulfilled while building permanent dispensary locations for up to one year.
- Customers place orders online/over the phone only; There are no in-person sales or warehouse location pick-ups.
- Customers only make advance payments online; There are no cash payments from the cannabis consumer to the delivery person
- Delivery must be made by bicycle, scooter or similar means of transport as well as motor vehicles
- Delivery to consumers over the age of 21 in New York, with ID verification upon sale and delivery
- Up to (25) delivery personnel per business, as required by the New York Cannabis Code
Physical storefronts coming soon
In November, the Cannabis Control Board granted preliminary approval to the first 36 adult-use retail dispensary licensees in the state. 28 of those licenses went to qualified businesses, and 8 of those provisional licenses went to qualified nonprofits. While the 28 new businesses will have to wait to open physical doors, some nonprofits already have locations. The only physical stores may be open before the end of 2022.
The Office of Cannabis Administration has also told CAURD’s temporary licensees that they can submit the required retail location for approval. Eligible licenses will receive financial support for renewals from the Cannabis Social Investment Fund administered by the New York State Inland Housing Authority (DASNY). DASNY will assist licensees in locating and building their stores as CAURD licenses are issued on a rolling basis through 2022.
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