The governor of New York is celebrating the state’s crossing the $4 billion mark in legal marijuana sales since the launch of the regulated market.
“When New York legalized adult-use cannabis, we made a promise to build an industry that is safe, fair and creates real opportunity for the communities hit hardest by decades of failed drug policies,” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in a press release on Tuesday. “Topping $4 billion in sales shows that promise is a reality.”
“Hundreds of licensed dispensaries are now open across the state, most licenses have gone to equity entrepreneurs, and cannabis revenue is going back to communities that need it most,” the governor said. “We will keep shutting down illegal shops, stand up for small businesses that play by the rules and ensure this industry continues on a path of growth and equity.”
Officials with the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) first announced that the state had reached the $4 billion milestone for legal marijuana sales earlier this month.
The $4.1 billion worth of adult-use marijuana products since sales began in late 2022 includes almost $1.5 billion so far in 2026 alone.
Third quarter sales reached $512.6 million, bringing the total for this year to date to $1.41 billion.
“Reaching $4.1 billion in cannabis sales is an extraordinary milestone for New York, but the real story is the people and businesses behind that number,” John Kagia, executive director of OCM, said on Tuesday. “From the advocates and lawmakers who made this market possible, to the entrepreneurs who have built New York’s legal cannabis supply chain from the ground up, and the workers who show up every day to keep the industry’s engine running—this achievement belongs to them.
“What we are seeing today is the result of their resilience, innovation and belief in what New York’s legal cannabis market could become,” he said. “Our responsibility now is to build on that momentum and help create the conditions for these businesses and this industry to thrive for years to come.”
Cannabis Control Board (CCB) Chair Jessica Garcia added that “New York set out to build a cannabis market where opportunity is shared, equity is meaningful, and businesses have a real chance to succeed.”
“Today, we are seeing that vision take shape across the state,” she said. “This milestone reflects tremendous progress, but it also raises the bar for what comes next. The measure of this market’s success will continue to be not only how much it grows, but whether that growth creates a lasting opportunity for the New Yorkers this market was designed to serve.”
Separately, Hochul recently signed legislation clarifying that marijuana microbusinesses can fully participate in cannabis farmers’ markets and pop-up events.
In May, OCM began accepting applications from licensed dispensaries that want to host temporary cannabis farmers’ markets and pop-up events.
The launch of applications this year followed the enactment of earlier legislation signed by Hochul last year that built on an existing showcase program that was first created in 2023. The state Cannabis Control Board (CCB) adopted regulations for the events program that is now rolling out last May.
In March, the governor marked the five-year anniversary of adult-use marijuana legalization in New York, highlighting $3.3 billion in retail sales at that point, the opening of more than 600 licensed cannabis shops and achievements in promoting social equity in the industry while taking steps to mitigate the illicit market.
In January, New York officials released a set of reports providing a 2025 end-of-year status update on the evolution of the state’s medical and adult-use marijuana markets—touting record sales, revenue hauls for state coffers, licensing approvals, equity initiatives and more.
The OCM annual report also notes that Hochul signed legislation into law that expands the state’s medical cannabis program by improving patient access and “updating the program framework to better meet patient needs statewide.”
Meanwhile, a coalition of New York marijuana businesses are asking the governor to veto legislation that would create a new Cannabis Wage Board charged with recommending minimum hourly wages for industry workers.
The proposal would “create significant uncertainty for operators at a time when many are finally beginning to find their footing after years of regulatory delays, capital constraints, and continued competition from the illicit market,” an action alert sent by the Cannabis Association of New York (CANY) said.
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Separately, New York senators recently approved a bill related to reciprocity for out-of-state medical marijuana patients and the availability of pre-rolled joints in the medical cannabis market—even though the state has already enacted those reforms separately.
In February, the sponsor of the bill separately introduced legislation that would allow New York liquor and wine stores to obtain a permit to sell low-dose cannabis-infused drinks at their businesses.
Also, the governor recently signed legislation into law that revises zoning requirements for licensed marijuana businesses, granting more flexibility to retailers located within certain distances of schools and places of worship.
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