New York State Office of Cannabis Management

What New York State Office of Cannabis Management does

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is a New York State government regulatory agency established in March 2021 under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) and headquartered in Albany, NY. It administers three regulatory programs — adult-use cannabis, medical cannabis, and cannabinoid hemp — overseeing the licensing, cultivation, production, distribution, sale, and taxation of cannabis in New York. The agency operates under the oversight of the five-member Cannabis Control Board and a dedicated Chief Equity Officer, and supports a Social and Economic Equity (SEE) program designed to encourage participation by communities disproportionately impacted by prior prohibition policies.

OCM does not sell cannabis products and has no commercial revenue stream; rather, it regulates the industry through licensing, compliance inspections, enforcement, and public education. Its "products" are regulatory programs and services: license issuance and renewals across cultivator, processor, distributor, retail, and microbusiness categories; lab testing oversight; a Community Reinvestment grant program; a Cannabis Education Library; and consumer safety campaigns. The agency oversees a network of over 600 licensed dispensaries serving both adult-use consumers (21+) and 100,000+ registered medical patients, and the regulated market has generated over $3.3B in cumulative retail sales since legalization, exceeding $1B annually.

OCM's organizational structure includes an Acting Executive Director (John Kagia, as of April 2026), a Chief of Staff, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Equity Officer, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Law Judge, and Directors covering Communications, Enforcement and Investigations, Audit/Quality Assurance, and Administration. Partnerships include a vape recycling pilot with SUNY ESF and the Product Stewardship Institute, environmental alignment with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and community collaborations such as BLOOM ROC for social equity applicants. The agency does not develop proprietary technology products; its core capabilities are statutory and operational, not technology-driven.

Name

New York State Office of Cannabis Management

Legal name

New York State Office of Cannabis Management

Website

https://cannabis.ny.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

New York State government regulatory agency established in 2021 under the MRTA that licenses and oversees medical, adult-use, and cannabinoid hemp cannabis across New York, serving 600+ dispensaries, 100,000+ medical patients, and adult consumers statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cannabis Regulation

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult-Use (Recreational) Cannabis Dispensaries (CRANAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (CRANAFAB), Cannabis Dispensary + Pharmacy/Clinical Model (Patient Services) (CRANAFAI)

Keywords

• Cannabis regulatory framework
• Medical cannabis program
• Adult-use licensing
• Cannabinoid hemp regulation
• Social equity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is a state regulatory agency that administers the licensing, compliance, and enforcement framework for medical, adult-use, and cannabinoid hemp cannabis markets in New York State. It oversees cultivators, processors, distributors, and dispensaries through license issuance, product testing, labeling, packaging, and advertising standards. OCM also runs the Social and Economic Equity program and the Community Reinvestment grants program to promote participation by communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis prohibition.

Product overview

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is a state regulatory agency that administers three distinct regulatory programs: the Adult-Use Cannabis Program, Medical Cannabis Program, and Cannabinoid Hemp Program. These programs are supported by the Cannabis Control Board's oversight and operate within the comprehensive framework established by the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA). OCM provides licensing for cultivators, processors, distributors, and dispensaries, while also operating social equity initiatives including the Community Reinvestment Program and Social and Economic Equity Program. The agency also maintains a Cannabis Education Library for public outreach. Rather than offering commercial products, OCM functions as a regulatory and oversight body for New York's legal cannabis marketplace.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult-Use Cannabis Program Comprehensive regulatory framework overseeing the licensure, cultivation, production, distribution, sale, and taxation of recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older in New York State.
• Medical Cannabis Program Regulated medical cannabis program for certified patients, administered through registered organizations that manufacture and dispense products to certified patients with qualifying medical conditions.
• Cannabinoid Hemp Program Program regulating cannabinoid hemp products including farm processor licenses and temporary retail permits for hemp-derived products in New York State.
• Cannabis Education Library Educational materials informing the public about cannabis rules and laws, consumer safety, medical cannabis, and responsible use, available as free print materials and digital resources through OCM's public outreach.
• Community Reinvestment Program Grant program reinvesting cannabis-related tax revenue into communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition, supporting local organizations and economic development.
• Social and Economic Equity Program Program providing licensing priorities and support services to encourage participation in the legal cannabis industry by individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis prohibition policies.
• Cannabis Showcase Event (CSE) Permit Permits allowing licensed adult-use dispensaries to partner with licensed cultivators and processors to showcase and sell adult-use cannabis products at locations away from the licensed dispensary.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• SUNY ESF (Center for Sustainable Materials Management)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to launch a vape recycling pilot program addressing single-use vaping waste. The Center leads research on sustainable materials management while OCM provides regulatory guidance and industry engagement for the program running through August 2026.
• Product Stewardship InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner collaborating with OCM and SUNY ESF on the vape recycling pilot program to safely collect and dispose of single-use vaping products and e-cigarettes across five New York communities.
• New York State Department of Environmental ConservationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEC supports the vape recycling initiative with a goal to recycle 85% of the state's waste stream by 2050. OCM's program aligns with DEC's environmental sustainability objectives.
• BLOOM ROCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit advocacy group in Rochester that received a community award for supporting social equity applicants in the cannabis industry, helping advance OCM's equity goals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• California Department of Cannabis Control: California's state cannabis regulator, administering licensing, compliance, and enforcement across the largest U.S. cannabis market. Directly comparable as a state-level agency overseeing medical and adult-use cannabis with a social equity mandate.
• Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission: Oregon's combined alcohol and cannabis regulator administering licensing, compliance, and enforcement for recreational and medical cannabis. Directly comparable as a state cannabis regulatory body with mature enforcement and tracking infrastructure.
• Arizona Department of Health Services - Cannabis Program: Arizona's state regulator for medical marijuana and (as of Proposition 207 implementation) adult-use cannabis. Comparable as a state-level cannabis program operating under a state agency with licensing and compliance oversight.
• Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board: Washington's combined alcohol and cannabis regulator, overseeing licensing, enforcement, and product safety for both markets. Directly comparable as a state agency administering a comprehensive cannabis regulatory framework including producer, processor, and retailer tiers.
• Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency: Michigan's state agency within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs that licenses and oversees medical and adult-use cannabis businesses. Comparable as a state-level regulator with combined medical/adult-use oversight.
• Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board: Nevada's independent state agency that licenses and regulates cannabis cultivation, production, distribution, and sale. Comparable as a state-level cannabis regulator with enforcement and audit functions.
• Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission: Massachusetts's independent cannabis regulatory commission licensing cultivators, product manufacturers, retailers, and transporters. Comparable to OCM as a state-level body with social equity and host community agreement requirements.
• Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Office: Illinois's state office administering the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program and adult-use cannabis licensing. Comparable as a state-level regulator managing both medical and adult-use programs with statutory equity provisions.
• Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division: Colorado's Division within the Department of Revenue that regulates licensed marijuana businesses statewide. Comparable as a state-level cannabis regulator with mature adult-use and medical programs.
• New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission: New Jersey's independent state commission that licenses and regulates medical and adult-use cannabis. Closely comparable as a recently-established state agency with an explicit social equity focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nys_cannabis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDi7NYsLbAv5PO3EOk-YxWg
• Facebookm.facebook.com/NYS-Office-of-Cannabis-Management-100372645499872
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-york-state-office-of-cannabis-management
• Instagraminstagram.com/nys_cannabis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New York State Office of Cannabis Management