The three Brooklyn dispensaries were among 99 approved
CROWN HEIGHTS, NY — New York State granted licenses to three Brooklyn cannabis companies on Monday, just days after a borough-wide ban on dispensary licenses was lifted.
The three Brooklyn dispensaries were among 99 approved by the New York State Cannabis Control Board at a meeting at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights. The approvals — which advocates called "historic" — included 21 in Manhattan, three in Staten Island, nine in The Bronx and 17 in Queens.
The decision comes just under a week after a federal appeals court lifted a block on licenses in Brooklyn, central New York, Mid-Hudson Valley and Western New York, according to the New York Times.
“To those newly licensed — congratulations," said Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.
"We look forward to the businesses that you will build, the economy that you will develop…and the communities that you will strengthen."
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The three Brooklyn businesses approved Monday include: Evija Artworks Inc., a business owned by Misha Morse-Bunch, who owned a pet food and supply store called I Love My Pet Food and Supplies in Crown Heights.
The board also approved Level Up NYC Corp., owned by Justin Boyer, Catherine Ouellette and John Rufino, who previously operated a sneaker shop in Albany, New York.
The third Brooklyn license went to Dank Heaven, owned by Mark Shifrin, Leroy Dunn and Paul Shifrin. Mark Shifrin operated a dispensary in Tacoma, Washington for four years, according to the board.
Many advocates and business owners on Monday celebrated the "historic" approvals.
“I’m just so grateful to be part of history, to be part of one of the greatest dates in this whole country. For those who didn’t receive a license, be patient. I’ve been patient for a very long time and it finally came," said Coss Marte, whose business CONBUD received a license Monday.
Monday's approvals bring the state's total to 165 dispensary licenses.
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