Dozens of New York cannabis shops may have to relocate due to a mistake by state regulators unless lawmakers can come up with a solution.
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More than 100 New York marijuana shops are in limbo after officials admitted a big mistake
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and business owners are wondering how this could have happened. This was a blunder that went through multiple checks and balances within the state
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State officials say they improperly measured the distance between some shops and schools
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Under state law, cannabis shops must be at least 500 feet from a school
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But instead of measuring from the edge of the school's property, regulators were mistakenly measuring from the entrance in many cases
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I'm reading this letter. It was very nondescript at first. And I'm like
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oh, somebody's just spamming me or pranking me. And the further I read, I realized this was a
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serious letter telling me that I would not be renewed for my license due to a proximity
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protection error that the state made. That letter was sent out in July. In it
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the acting executive director of the cannabis agency said, To give you this news and for the weight of it, I am incredibly sorry
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Dozens of shops already open were given the wrong measurements as well as many pending businesses and those awaiting license approval
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The state has created a fund for pot shop owners where they can be awarded up to for relocation costs but it doesn apply to a business already in operation The shops already open with improper boundaries can remain open until a legislative fix or final
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decision is made, even those with expired permits, so long as they apply for renewals. Officials also
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say businesses can obtain proof of a valid license or a letter of good standing by contacting the
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cannabis office. Still, owners say that doesn't fix other issues. For people whose licenses actually
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expire before they can come through with a legislative fix. Insurance companies cannot
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actually insure you if you do not have an active license. For insurance and banking, there is no
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limbo. Governor Kathy Hochul is pushing lawmakers to come up with a solution once they meet again
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in January and pledge to owners everything will be okay. Shop owners are holding her and other
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elected officials to that promise. Governor Hochul, the bowl is in your court. OCM
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it's in your court as well. Mayor Adams, the three of you and your organizations
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this is on you to fix and there are clear fixes. Do not wait until it's too late
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For Shader News, I'm Lauren Keenan. If you want more on this story, download the Shader News app or visit san.com
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