Tainted drugs and illegal shops: what’s going on with New York’s weed industry?

In March 2021, Governor Andrew M Cuomo signed a new law that legalized adult possession and use of cannabis in New York state.

Two years later, there are only 23 legal weed dispensaries. Why have so few licenses been granted? New York wanted social equity to be at the heart of who was profiting from the change in law. The first licensed dispensary for recreational cannabis in New York is run by Housing Works, a non-profit that provides housing and healthcare to people living with HIV and Aids.