<h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.5; font-size: 2.4em; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; color: var(--iq-title-text); letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">New York's First Marijuana Dispensary</h1>
<p><img style="box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle; border-style: none; max-width: 31%; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff; width: auto; max-height: 265px; height: auto; margin: 0px 10px;" src="https://i.imgur.com/lUrIfdH.png" alt="marijuana dispensary" align="left" /></p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned consumer, you will need to do your homework before visiting a marijuana dispensary. There are rules and regulations that you will need to follow, including a strict prohibition against smoking on site. A good dispensary will provide you with educational programs that will help you become an informed user.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">One of the first things to check is your health. Some types of cannabis can cause a rapid heart rate, irritation to the lungs, and anxiety. Depending on the state, you may need to have a medical card or prescription before purchasing cannabis. You will also need to bring proof of age. You will also want to bring cash, as you won't be able to use a credit or debit card to pay for your purchase.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">In the event that you do not have a medical card, your budtender can advise you on which products to try. Some dispensaries will even offer discounts for medical cannabis patients. You should also be aware that there may be ATM fees that apply to your purchases. If you are shopping for the first time, be sure to find a dispensary that offers educational programs.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">You should also know that the federal government continues to classify cannabis as illegal. However, the state of New York has taken a unique approach to creating a legal market for marijuana. It has approved a total of 175 marijuana retail dispensary licenses. These licenses allow operators to open up to three cannabis outlets. Some of these dispensaries will open before the end of 2022.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">The Office of Cannabis Management has been tasked with approving marijuana dispensary licenses. The first round of applicants for the licenses included 36 businesses and nonprofits. The remaining pre-approved companies are in Stage Two of the approval process, which includes securing local zoning approvals and criminal background investigations. The Office of Cannabis Management issued a press release to notify the public of its decisions.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">Among the pre-approved applicants are three New York City-based nonprofits. These organizations are Center for Community Alternatives (CCA), Housing Works, and LIFE Camp. CCA is an organization that provides alternatives to incarceration for people who have been arrested. They also work with people who are HIV positive. They have a mission to reduce violence in Southeast Queens. LIFE Camp is a Black woman-led nonprofit that was founded in 2002. It is believed to be the first Black woman-led nonprofit to receive a license.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">Axel Bernabe, senior policy director for the Office of Cannabis Management, says that the first set of license applicants represents the "top class" of applicants. The state plans to issue 175 dispensary licenses, including 25 reserved for nonprofits. The board also prioritizes applicants who have a history of serving prisoners or a family member who has had a cannabis conviction.</p>
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: #585858; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #ffffff;">The Office of Cannabis Management said it will work with the state's regulators to help licensed applicants open dispensaries. According to Bernabe, "Our first priority is to make sure we have the best possible applicant pool." He added that the board prioritizes applications from those who have a history of successful businesses, nonprofits with a history of serving prisoners, or those with a family member who has had a previous cannabis conviction.</p>