Getting started

MRTA Article 6, Sections 125, 132, 133, 136, 137, 138-A. These sections govern civil penalties, license suspension and revocation, prohibited ownership, and the definition of illicit cannabis. Operators encounter these rules any time compliance breaks down, ownership is questioned, or products fall outside the regulated system.

Packaging and labeling compliance is one of the most common reasons dispensaries are cited, fined, or forced to pull inventory. OCM inspects every product on your shelves, and responsibility rests with the retailer, even if the issue originated with the processor or distributor. A product that does not meet packaging or labeling rules cannot be sold.

New York dispensaries may only sell cannabis products that are approved by OCM, fully tested by a licensed laboratory, and properly packaged and labeled. Retailers are responsible for confirming compliance before any product reaches the sales floor. If you sell a noncompliant product, liability falls on the retailer, not just the distributor.

Before you can open a New York cannabis dispensary, your location, construction, storage, and security systems must comply with state and local law. If the address is wrong, the buildout is not permitted, or the security infrastructure is incomplete, OCM can deny approval to open even if your license was granted. This section explains the physical and structural rules that apply before and after opening.