New York doubles cannabis retailers in 2025

New York’s legal cannabis market saw explosive growth in 2025, with the number of licensed marijuana shops more than doubling.

By the end of 2025, there were 556 licensed retailers, up from 261 in 2024, according to the Office of Cannabis Management. More than 200 of those shops are in New York City.

The expansion helped drive total cannabis sales to more than $2.5 billion, with $1.5 billion generated in 2025 alone.

“Surpassing $2.5 billion in adult-use sales is a major milestone,” Susan Filburn, acting executive director of the OCM, told The New York Post.

The rapid increase in retail locations has bolstered state and local tax revenue, which now exceeds $360 million since the market’s inception.

But the rollout has not been without challenges. Critics have pointed to regulatory missteps by the OCM, including enforcement struggles and zoning errors, as barriers preventing the market from reaching its full potential.

Gov. Kathy Hochul called for the resignation of OCM Executive Director Felicia Reid after the agency mishandled a compliance case against a licensed processor. Reid’s departure marks the second leadership change in less than two years, following Chris Alexander’s resignation in 2024 after an audit of the agency.

Meanwhile, the illicit market has continued to grow, hurting licensed operators, Osbert Orduna, a disabled veteran and CEO of The Cannabis Place in Middle Village, Queens, told The Post.

“Online-based illicit operators continue to operate throughout the state. Much more needs to be done to combat the public safety threat that the illicit market poses to communities throughout the state,” Orduna said.