Patrons browse the cannabis store at Union Square Travel Agency.
Photo: Dean Moses
Sign up for amNewYork's email newsletters to get news, updates and local information delivered straight to your inbox.
The New York State Office of Cannabis Control (OCM) has launched the Legal Online Cannabis Activities Locator (LOCAL) map, a potentially groundbreaking tool designed to streamline the application process for cannabis businesses.
According to state regulators, the initiative is intended to increase efficiency, transparency and affordability for applicants and stakeholders throughout the state's cannabis supply chain.
Developed using data from the Cannabis Licensing System (CLS), LOCAL is OCM's response to feedback from industry stakeholders. According to OCM, the LOCAL map highlights OCM's commitment to supporting the needs of both applicants and businesses across the cannabis industry.
The LOCAL map application tool can be accessed online at local.cannabis.ny.gov. Prior to this innovation, cannabis license applicants had to rely on costly and time-consuming investigators to ensure location and compliance with regulatory requirements. LOCAL eliminates the need for third-party assistance, providing a free, easy-to-use solution.
A screenshot of the new LOCAL map showing the locations of legal cannabis dispensaries and other related businesses.
“LOCAL is a paradigm shift for New York's cannabis industry, providing both businesses and stakeholders with the resources they need to succeed in a rapidly growing market,” said Felicia A.B. Reed, OCM's Acting Executive Director.
LOCAL Maps includes two key tools: The first, available today, is an industry-specific map that helps businesses create proximity reports, search for licenses, export data, and explore various data layers. The second, expected to be released in the coming weeks, is a consumer-specific dispensary map, designed to make it easier for New York residents to find legal cannabis dispensaries.
There are already 197 adult-use dispensaries in the state, and the LOCAL tool is expected to play a key role in ensuring continued access to safe, regulated cannabis products.
A complete list of dispensaries can be found on OCM's website at cannabis.ny.gov.
