A federal judge in the Northern District of New York has temporarily halted the issuance of the state’s first conditional adult-use retail dispensary (CAURD) licenses in five districts, including Western New York, Central New York, and the Finger Lakes. This will most likely be a precursor to more cannabis-related litigation in New York.
The court order was handed down as a result of a lawsuit by a Michigan applicant—Variscite NY One. Variscite’s arguments contend that New York’s conditions for applicants, especially the requirement of a principal residence in New York and that they or a family member has been convicted of a marijuana-related crime in the state, violate the U.S. Constitution’s safeguards for interstate commerce.
