Non-Profit to Open Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary in Union Square on Monday
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of the third Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary location in Manhattan, New York. The opening of the store advances New York State's Seeding Opportunity Initiative and the state's goals of equity in cannabis licensing, which prioritizes providing licenses to justice-involved individuals who are people with a cannabis conviction or a close relative of someone with one, and nonprofits that serve justice-involved individuals.
“We’re building a cannabis industry here in New York State that is equitable and delivers new resources to nonprofits that bring supportive services to our communities,” Governor Hochul said. “This is the latest milestone in our efforts to grow the industry, while creating jobs and opportunity for those who, historically, have been disproportionately targeted for cannabis infractions.”
The dispensary opening in Manhattan will operate under a license held by The Doe Store, a subsidiary of the Doe Fund, a non-profit organization. It will be operated by Harbour Community. Located at 62 East 13th Street, the dispensary will be known as “Union Square Travel Agency: A Cannabis Store.” Since 1985, The Doe Fund has helped nearly 30,000 individuals break the devastating cycle of poverty, homelessness, and incarceration. Its Ready, Willing & Able program provides paid work, housing, and comprehensive support services to homeless and formerly incarcerated men in New York City. It will open at noon on Monday, February 13. Initial operating hours will be 10 am-10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 10 am-11 pm Friday and Saturday.
The CAURD license is a central pillar of the New York State Seeding Opportunity Initiative. Through the Initiative, New York's first legal adult-use retail dispensaries will be operated by those most impacted by the enforcement of the prohibition of cannabis or non-profit organizations whose services include support for the formerly incarcerated. These dispensaries are making legal adult-use sales with cannabis products grown by New York Farmers.
To be eligible, applicants must either have a cannabis conviction themselves, or be the close family relative of someone who does, and own or have owned a business that had a net profit for at least two years. Non-profits are eligible for CAURD licenses if they have a history of serving current or formerly incarcerated individuals, including creating vocational opportunities for them; have at least one justice involved board member; at least five full time employees; and have operated a social enterprise that had net assets or profit for at least two years.
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