Shopping local and legal: Most NY marijuana users buying their buds from licensed operators, state report finds

New York State officials released a report on Thursday detailingkey achievementsin the pot industry — even as controversy continues to surround the state’s cannabis licensing program since the drug was legalized for recreational use statewide in 2021.

The report, dubbed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) Implementation Report, details the industry’s three-year progress. It shows that more than 1,300 adult-use cannabis licenses have been issued, over 200 retail dispensaries have opened, and 67% of New York cannabis smokers purchased the drug from legal retailers — all facts state officials are callingprogress.”