Applications for the initial round of Cannabis dispensary licenses will soon be available.
State regulators will start accepting applications on August 25th from people interested in operating retail dispensaries. The initial round is limited to applicants who can prove they were convicted of a marijuana-related charge in New York prior to 2021, or have an immediate family member who was.
Applicants will also have to demonstrate that they’ve owned and operated a business that netted a profit for at least two years.
Wait, wait, wait a minute here. Is this article stating that the first round of applicants MUST have a marijuana – related charge in their criminal history or have a family member of like background? Effectively, giving first preference for a dispensary license to someone who had broken a prior law as opposed to say, Rev. Kabillibob who never broke the law but now wants to start a dispensary business? Am I reading this right or having a senior moment?