Daily Operations

New York’s Cash on Delivery (C.O.D.) system is an enforcement mechanism used by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to address unpaid supplier invoices. When a retailer fails to pay a licensed supplier, the supplier may report the delinquency to OCM. Once reported, the retailer is placed on the C.O.D. List and faces immediate purchasing restrictions until the issue is formally resolved.

If a budtender’s day runs more than 10 hours from first punch to last punch, you may owe an extra hour of pay under NY law. This page explains the rule, examples, and how retail dispensaries accidentally violate it.

This page organizes official rules, bulletins, FAQs, and memos so operators can work with confidence and avoid compliance risks.

This page answers: "What do I need to finish before I can open my dispensary?"

Once your doors open, most enforcement actions come from day-to-day operational mistakes, not licensing errors. These include missed ID checks, POS errors, delivery violations, inventory mismatches, labor issues, and improper waste handling.

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) regulates how businesses store trash, manage waste, and maintain clean sidewalks. These rules apply daily and are actively enforced against retail businesses across the city. Sanitation violations are among the most common tickets issued to NYC retailers and can result in repeat fines if not corrected.

SAFE Banking is a proposed federal law to protect banks that serve state-legal cannabis businesses. It could make bank accounts and lending more available over time. It would not remove 280E taxes, federally legalize THC, or replace New York OCM compliance requirements. This page explains what changes and what doesn’t.

Thinking about paying budtenders as 1099 contractors in New York? In almost every dispensary, budtenders are employees. This page explains the NY control test, workers’ comp rules, what triggers audits, real examples, and the penalties that hit operators who misclassify staff.

This section covers the requirements that apply from submitting a New York cannabis license application through the issuance of proximity protection. It explains the elements OCM reviews to determine whether an application can proceed, including license type, ownership and disclosure, zoning eligibility, municipal notice, and application completeness. This section applies before buildout, inspections, or opening.