--- title: "Cannabis School Distance Suit: Decision Imminent" description: New York's revised cannabis school distance policy sparks litigation, affecting hundreds of dispensaries and threatening their survival. image: https://420intel.com/hubfs/andres-gomez-Ma57o8fwGcI-unsplash.jpg --- [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) ### Press ESC to close [![420intel.com](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%2016-1.png?width=300&height=162&name=Asset%2016-1.png "420intel.com")](https://420intel.com) - [Home](https://420intel.com) - [Advertise](https://420intel.com/advertise) - [Directory](https://420intel.com/directory) - [Topics](https://420intel.com/blog) - [Recreational News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/recreational-cannabis-news) - [Business News](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-business-news) - [Politics](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-politics) - [Technology](https://420intel.com/tag/cannabis-technology-news) - [Research](https://420intel.com/tag/medical-cannabis-news) - [Contact](https://420intel.com/contact-us) - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/420-intel/) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://x.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) # Cannabis School Distance Suit: Decision Imminent - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - [Marijuana legalization](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/marijuana-legalization) - 10 September 2025 Attorneys expect litigation to move forward this week over New York’s sudden change to how it measures the required 500-foot buffer between dispensaries and schools or houses of worship. The new “**cannabis school distance**” policy has thrown hundreds of small businesses into chaos, and many owners say their survival now depends on the courts. Attorney Jorge Luis Vasquez represents a dozen New York City dispensary owners who sued the state last month. He expects a judge to be assigned to the case soon. Their lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court, demands that affected licensees have their permits renewed and that their original **cannabis school distance** protections be honored. According to Vasquez, negotiations with the state Attorney General’s office are ongoing. “Nothing is written in stone,” he said. “Everyone is negotiating from a positive standpoint and we’re working to reach some sort of agreement.” Members of the Cannabis Control Board briefly discussed the litigation during an executive session of its monthly meeting in Albany but declined public comment. OCM Acting and Deputy Executive Director Felicia A.B. Reid said her agency has notified more than 200 cannabis businesses and applicants that their licenses cannot be renewed or processed because of miscalculations in how the **cannabis school distance** was measured — 48 more than initially reported. Although that represents only 13 percent of licensees, Reid called it a significant portion of the agency’s social and economic equity efforts. Reid added that she learned at the end of June the department was not complying with state law. The agency is working with Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers on a legislative fix to be considered in January, which would ensure affected storefronts would not have to relocate because of the **cannabis school distance** change. But many license holders dispute OCM’s assurances. They argue that under current state law, processors and cultivators cannot sell products to a dispensary whose license has expired, regardless of any interim directive. Plaintiff Osbert Orduna, CEO of The Cannabis Place in Queens, said his license expires in six weeks and the uncertainty around **cannabis school distance** rules is jeopardizing his business. Impacted applicants have been told they can apply for up to $250,000 in state aid to relocate if needed, but the fund is not yet open. As New York rolls out low-interest loan programs and equity initiatives, many operators say the top priority should be fixing the **cannabis school distance** policy to provide clear, consistent rules. Until then, hundreds of dispensaries remain in legal and financial limbo.   [by NY State of Politics](https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/politics/2025/09/09/suit-over-cannabis-school-distance-change-to-advance-in-days)   [Marijuana legalization](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/marijuana-legalization) ![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=200&height=200&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) #### [Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) At 420 Intel, we cover cannabis legalization news throughout the world, offer reliable information for cannabis business owners, detail technological advances that impact the marijuana industry, cover marijuana rallies from across the globe, and everything in between. - - - [Cannabis Business News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-business-news) [![Schenectady dispensary launches business model to help CAURD licensees](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20the%20grand%20opening%20ceremony%20of%20Cannabicity%2c%20a%20cannabis%20dispensary%20located%20in%20Mohawk%20Harbor%2c%20Schenectady-1.jpeg?width=550&height=395&name=The%20image%20depicts%20the%20grand%20opening%20ceremony%20of%20Cannabicity%2c%20a%20cannabis%20dispensary%20located%20in%20Mohawk%20Harbor%2c%20Schenectady-1.jpeg)](https://420intel.com/blog/schenectady-dispensary-launches-business-model-to-help-caurd-licensees) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 7 March 2025 #### [Schenectady dispensary launches business model to help CAURD licensees](https://420intel.com/blog/schenectady-dispensary-launches-business-model-to-help-caurd-licensees) SCHENECTADY, N.Y. ([NEWS10](https://www.news10.com/news/schenectady-county/schenectady-dispensary-launches-business-model-to-help-caurd-licensees/))– A Schenectady woman-founded cannabis dispensary was the first to debut... [Cannabis Business News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-business-news) [![How others’ mistakes could help Maryland get Cannabis Legalization right](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/How%20others%E2%80%99%20mistakes%20could%20help%20Maryland%20get%20Cannabis%20Legalization%20right.jpg?width=550&height=395&name=How%20others%E2%80%99%20mistakes%20could%20help%20Maryland%20get%20Cannabis%20Legalization%20right.jpg)](https://420intel.com/blog/how-others-mistakes-could-help-maryland-get-cannabis-legalization-right) - [Admin](https://420intel.com/blog/author/admin) - 7 March 2024 #### [How others’ mistakes could help Maryland get Cannabis Legalization right](https://420intel.com/blog/how-others-mistakes-could-help-maryland-get-cannabis-legalization-right) ## A state of New York notice posted at a business announces the seizure of “illicit cannabis” at a... [Cannabis Business News](https://420intel.com/blog/tag/cannabis-business-news) [![Solon's First Dispensary Opening Soon! Drive-Thru Next!](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20modern%20cannabis%20dispensary%20The%20Botanist%20located%20on%20a%20bustling%20street%20in%20Solon%20Ohio%20The%20storefront%20features%20a%20sleek%20contemporary%20design%20with%20large%20glass%20windows%20allowing%20a%20glimpse%20of%20the%20inviting%20interior%20The%20facade%20is%20adorned%20with-1.jpeg?width=550&height=395&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20modern%20cannabis%20dispensary%20The%20Botanist%20located%20on%20a%20bustling%20street%20in%20Solon%20Ohio%20The%20storefront%20features%20a%20sleek%20contemporary%20design%20with%20large%20glass%20windows%20allowing%20a%20glimpse%20of%20the%20inviting%20interior%20The%20facade%20is%20adorned%20with-1.jpeg)](https://420intel.com/blog/solons-first-dispensary-opening-soon-drive-thru-next) - [![Buzz](https://420intel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png?width=80&height=80&name=Buzz-No%20Outline-2.png) Buzz](https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz) - 16 July 2025 #### [Solon's First Dispensary Opening Soon! Drive-Thru Next!](https://420intel.com/blog/solons-first-dispensary-opening-soon-drive-thru-next) SOLON, Ohio — Solon is getting a new kind of green business this July: its very first cannabis... - [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/420intel) - [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/420intel) - [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/420intel) Back to Top ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Buzz", "url" : "https://420intel.com/blog/author/buzz" }, "dateModified" : "2025-09-10T12:50:00.041Z", "datePublished" : "2025-09-10T12:04:49.000Z", "headline" : "Cannabis School Distance Suit: Decision Imminent", "image" : [ "https://420intel.com/hubfs/andres-gomez-Ma57o8fwGcI-unsplash.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://420intel.com/blog/cannabis-school-distance-suit-decision-imminent", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://420intel.com/hubfs/Asset%2016.png" }, "name" : "420 Intel" } } ```