S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5887
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 21, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations
 
 AN  ACT to amend the cannabis law, in relation to prohibiting new canna-
   bis dispensaries from opening up within a certain distance from  other
   licensed cannabis dispensaries
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 72 of the cannabis law is amended by adding  a  new
 subdivision 7 to read as follows:
   7.  (A) NO CANNABIS RETAIL LICENSEE APPLICANT SHALL SUBMIT AN APPLICA-
 TION TO LOCATE A STOREFRONT IN A CITY, TOWN OR VILLAGE  HAVING  A  POPU-
 LATION  OF TWENTY THOUSAND OR MORE WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED FEET OF AN EXIST-
 ING PREMISES LICENSED AND OPERATING PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE OR  ARTICLE
 THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   (B)  THE  MEASUREMENT  IN  PARAGRAPH  (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
 TAKEN IN STRAIGHT LINES FROM THE CENTER OF THE NEAREST ENTRANCE  OF  THE
 PREMISES  SOUGHT TO BE LICENSED TO THE CENTER OF THE NEAREST ENTRANCE OF
 SUCH PREMISES LICENSED AND OPERATING PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE OR ARTICLE
 THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   (C) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF  THIS  SUBDIVI-
 SION,  THE  CANNABIS  CONTROL BOARD MAY ISSUE A LICENSE PURSUANT TO THIS
 SECTION FOR A PREMISES WHICH SHALL BE WITHIN FIVE  HUNDRED  FEET  OF  AN
 EXISTING  PREMISES  LICENSED  AND  OPERATING PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE OR
 ARTICLE THREE OF THIS CHAPTER IF, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH  THE  CANNABIS
 CONTROL BOARD, SUCH BOARD DETERMINES THAT GRANTING SUCH LICENSE WOULD BE
 IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. BEFORE IT MAY ISSUE ANY SUCH LICENSE, THE CANNA-
 BIS  CONTROL BOARD SHALL CONDUCT A HEARING, UPON NOTICE TO THE APPLICANT
 AND THE MUNICIPALITY OR COMMUNITY BOARD WHERE THE PROPOSED  PREMISES  IS
 LOCATED  AND  SHALL  STATE  AND FILE IN ITS OFFICE ITS REASONS THEREFOR.
 NOTICE TO THE MUNICIPALITY OR COMMUNITY BOARD SHALL MEAN WRITTEN  NOTICE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10314-02-3
              
             
                          
                 S. 5887                             2
 
 MAILED BY THE AUTHORITY TO SUCH MUNICIPALITY OR COMMUNITY BOARD AT LEAST
 FIFTEEN  DAYS IN ADVANCE OF ANY HEARING SCHEDULED PURSUANT TO THIS PARA-
 GRAPH. UPON THE REQUEST OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD, ANY  MUNICIPALITY
 OR  COMMUNITY  BOARD  MAY  WAIVE THE FIFTEEN DAY NOTICE REQUIREMENT. THE
 HEARING MAY BE RESCHEDULED, ADJOURNED OR  CONTINUED,  AND  THE  CANNABIS
 CONTROL BOARD SHALL GIVE NOTICE TO THE APPLICANT AND THE MUNICIPALITY OR
 COMMUNITY BOARD OF ANY SUCH RESCHEDULED, ADJOURNED OR CONTINUED HEARING.
 BEFORE  THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD ISSUES ANY SAID LICENSE, THE CANNABIS
 CONTROL BOARD MAY, IN ADDITION TO THE HEARING  REQUIRED  BY  THIS  PARA-
 GRAPH, ALSO CONDUCT A PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING SAID LICENSE, UPON NOTICE
 TO  THE  APPLICANT  AND  THE MUNICIPALITY OR COMMUNITY BOARD. THE PUBLIC
 MEETING MAY BE RESCHEDULED, ADJOURNED OR  CONTINUED,  AND  THE  CANNABIS
 CONTROL BOARD SHALL GIVE NOTICE TO THE APPLICANT AND THE MUNICIPALITY OR
 COMMUNITY  BOARD  OF ANY SUCH RESCHEDULED, ADJOURNED OR CONTINUED PUBLIC
 MEETING. NO PREMISES HAVING BEEN GRANTED  A  LICENSE  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
 SECTION  SHALL BE DENIED A RENEWAL OF SUCH LICENSE UPON THE GROUNDS THAT
 SUCH PREMISES ARE WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED FEET OF A  BUILDING  OR  BUILDINGS
 WHEREIN A PREMISES IS LICENSED AND OPERATING PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE OR
 ARTICLE THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.