Sep 15, 2023, 9:46pmUpdated 25m ago
By: News 12 Staff
Cannabis dispensary owners were disappointed as a State Supreme Court hearing on Friday did not result in the lift of an injunction that blocks them from opening.
Some larger cannabis companies sued the state over its dispensary licensing policy, which gave the first licenses to applicants with cannabis-related convictions.
In response, the state Office of Cannabis Management is opening applications to everyone beginning Oct. 4.
“I know I was within 24 hours of opening when the injunction hit,” says Beth Smith, of the Westchester Harvesting Company.
Smith and other dispensary owners were hoping the judge would lift an injunction that has stopped licensing cold or at least grant exemptions to it.
“I don’t think OCM is going to hesitate at all. I think they’re going to tell us as soon as that injunction is open ‘go,’” she said.
An attorney for some of the companies who are suing says there was a lot of discussion about evidence and procedure and that he is pleased the judge is being deliberate.
An attorney for several dispensaries says Friday’s hearing was “much ado about nothing.” Smith, however,