New York Cannabis Dispensaries Fight OCM’s School-Buffer Rule Change
New York’s Office of Cannabis Management has thrown 152 licensed cannabis dispensaries and applicants into chaos by abruptly changing how the state measures the 500-foot school buffer. This sudden reinterpretation threatens to shut down stores that were previously approved — including Housing Works, ConBud, Gotham Buds, and The Cannabis Place — and has opened the door for lawsuits. Here’s how impacted businesses can fight back through legal action, media pressure, and legislative fixes to protect their investments and keep serving their communities.