Because the Finger Lakes region was identified as 'first choice' out of the five included areas of the state, it was left out. As a result, local business hopefuls are kept in the dark and are waiting for a reversal.
A total of 903 applications, each with a filing fee of $2,000, have come in to Albany in this first round. Expect the first few dispensaries to open by year's end.
On Thursday, New York State began accepting applications from people who want to open legal marijuana dispensaries in New York. At the front of the line was a Rochester couple who meets the benchmarks and is hoping to get one of the first licenses to legally sell.