New York State may soon allow licensed liquor stores to sell cannabis-infused drinks — but they would only be able to stock low-dosage options.
State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow liquor stores to get permits to sell weed drinks alongside wine and beer, but only if the THC content is 5 milligrams or less.
“New York’s independent liquor stores are uniquely qualified to retail low-potency cannabis beverages,” Assemblyman John Zaccaro (D-Bronx) and Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) said in a memo accompanying the proposed bill.
“They are already required to be independently owned, must maintain a distance of at least 200 feet from schools and houses of worship, and employ staff trained in rigorous age-verification protocols,” the memo added.
The lawmakers claim their measure, if approved, would protect the nearly 600 licensed marijuana stores in the state by limiting the stores to low-potency drinks, while many of the cannabis dispensaries only sell higher-dose beverages.
This bill would also provide revenue to fund loans and grants for social equity-owned dispensaries, and the tax revenue generated would also bolster funding for the state Office of Cannabis Management and grants issued by the office.
But one cannabis store operator said he opposed allowing the liquor industry to enter the cannabis market.
It’s a bit of a two-faced move, especially since the liquor store lobby has staunchly opposed efforts to allow grocery stores to sell wine.
“It’s ridiculous. If we can’t sell alcohol, why should liquor stores sell cannabis?” said Osbert Orduna, CEO of The Cannabis Place in Middle Village, Queens, who is a member of the National Hispanic Council and the Service Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association.
He said he sells lower-dose TCH-infused beverages, particularly in the warmer weather.
Orduna also said there’s still a huge illicit market selling unlicensed weed that impacts the bottom line of legit cannabis shops.
“It makes no sense,” he said.
There are now 595 state-licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Empire State, many operating in New York City after the legislature legalized sales of marijuana for adult use in 2021.