Extra New Yorkers received excessive on authorized pot final 12 months — regardless of some regardless of dopey bungling by the state’s hashish regulators.
New York’s authorized hashish market surpassed $2.5 billion in gross sales — together with greater than $1.5 billion in enterprise for 2025 alone — following an preliminary rocky rollout three years in the past, the Workplace of Hashish Administration mentioned in its annual report.
The variety of licensed weed retailers statewide additionally greater than doubled — to 556 from 261 in 2024 — together with greater than 200 dispensaries positioned in New York Metropolis.
By comparability, there have been simply 34 dispensaries within the Empire State in 2023.
Gross sales of authorized weed have generated greater than $360 million in tax income mixed for the state and localities, the report mentioned.
“Surpassing $2.5 billion in adult-use gross sales is a serious milestone,” mentioned Susan Filburn, performing government director of the New York State Workplace of Hashish Administration.
“This Annual Report displays the market New Yorkers have constructed collectively over the previous 12 months. We expanded entry to regulated, examined hashish merchandise, strengthened client protections, and continued to advance an equity-centered market framework,” mentioned Filburn.
However the progress may have been higher if not for stumbles by OCM, critics mentioned.
Gov. Kathy Hochul requested for the resignation of OCM government director Felicia Reid final month after the company bungled an enforcement case towards a licensed pot distributor amid struggles to implement a crackdown towards illicit merchandise being smuggled into the state’s authorized market.
“Too usually, the Workplace of Hashish Administration has stood in the way in which of the market realizing its potential, together with most not too long ago within the case of a pending compliance motion that it has needed to withdraw,” Hochul mentioned.
Reid is the second CEO changed in lower than two years. Her predecessor, Chris Alexander, resigned in Could 2024 following a scathing audit by Hochul’s workplace after the governor branded the launch of adult-use marijuana gross sales a “catastrophe.”
Earlier final 12 months, OCM officers admitted that they’d mistakenly calculated the space guidelines for separating weed retailers underneath the regulation, a goof that needs to be corrected by the legislature.
An excessive amount of criminal activity continues to harm licensed retailers, mentioned Osbert Orduna, a disabled vet and the CEO of The Hashish Place in Center Village, Queens.
“In 2025 the illicit market has continued to develop and broaden into different areas as proven when the NYC Sheriff raided a bootleg warehouse in Jersey Metropolis,” Orduna mentioned.
“On-line based mostly illicit operators proceed to function all through the state, way more must be carried out to fight the general public security risk that the illicit market poses to communities all through the state.”
Orduna, who additionally advocates for disabled veterans who get preferences for hashish licenses underneath state regulation, mentioned too few have gotten approval to enter the authorized weed market. Some vets had even sued the state for allegedly snubbing them.
“This isn’t the way to thank people who have served our nation, sacrificing their our bodies and minds for our state and nation,” he mentioned.
He remained hopeful that extra vets can be authorised as hashish retailers subsequent 12 months, noting that the brand new OCM performing director, Filburn, is an Military veteran herself.
Nonetheless, hashish trade reps mentioned the expansion within the authorized market over the previous 12 months is plain.
“The annual report reveals significant progress in New York’s authorized hashish market, however it additionally makes clear that New York State wants a powerful auditing course of to forestall inversion and defend customers,” mentioned Joe Rossi, strategist for Empire State Inexperienced Customary Alliance, a hashish client advocacy group centered on marijuana client well being and security.
“Because the market grows, rigorous oversight of the provision chain, product motion, and monetary controls is important to make sure solely examined authorized hashish reaches New Yorkers and to keep up public belief,” he mentioned.
