N.Y. Cannabis Board Resolves Lawsuits, Clearing Path for Dispensary Openings

The New York State cannabis board has approved a settlement that resolves two lawsuits and ends a three-month freeze on recreational dispensary openings in the state. The settlement will salvage the interim licensing program, allowing 436 retail license holders caught up in the litigation to open shops and begin making deliveries. This includes 23 dispensaries that were ready to open before the stoppage. The settlement also limits avenues for future lawsuits against the program and paves the way for the issuance of additional licenses. Opening more dispensaries is crucial to alleviate the bottleneck that has left most of the state's cannabis stockpile unsold. However, concerns about potential future lawsuits remain.