As reported last November 19:
… The Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary application was rejected this evening by the CB 8 full committee in a vote of 28 to 15….
The Community Board 8 (CB 8) rejection of the application by Empire Flowers Inc to open a combination Cannabis Dispensary and Flower Shop on Roosevelt Island at 520 Main Street
was not the final decision on this issue. The NY State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) makes the final decision. According to December 2 statement from OCM to my inquiry:
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) opens and reviews adult-use dispensary applications in queue order until they are vetted and ready for recommendation to the Cannabis Control Board (CCB). There is no set date for when the CCB will review or make a decision on any individual application. There is no public hearing specific to any single dispensary application, but all CCB meetings are open to the public, OCM posts meeting agendas beforehand, and CCB meetings are available for viewing online, both livestream and archived.
The CCB considers municipal and Community Board opinions in accordance with Section 76 of the Cannabis Law. A municipality or Community Board can provide an opinion on whether the CCB should grant or deny a license; that opinion is part of the record that the CCB reviews. However, the opinion is not the sole determinative factor of whether the CCB will grant or deny a license to an applicant; the municipal opinion is one of many factors that the CCB considers as the CCB approaches every decision, including approvals over municipal objection, consistent with their authority under section 76 of the state law.
Roosevelt Island residents have been asking repeatedly:
Have you heard anything further about when the Cannabis Board will consider the Roosevelt Island proposal?
On December 11, OCM sent out a media advisory announcing:
The New York State Cannabis Control Board will hold a public meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Empire State Plaza Concourse, Meeting Room 6, Albany, NY 12242. …
… Open to the Public: This meeting will be open to the public. Due to space limitations at the meeting venue, only a limited number of members of the public will be able to attend this meeting in person. Members of the public are encouraged, but not required to, pre-register if they wish to attend in person to facilitate easier check-in prior to the meeting. Registration is not required to view the livestreaming video link.
Public Comment: Public comment will be allowed during a designated comment period as part of this meeting. Participating individuals should indicate their desire to participate in public comment when pre-registering and/or checking in prior to the meeting. Individuals must limit their remarks to two minutes and remarks should be related to specific agenda items. Additional comments may be submitted online using the public comment form below. Online submissions will be part of the official record of the meeting and be documented in the meeting minutes. All online comments must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23rd. …
I asked OCM on December 11:
I received a media advisory this morning that NY Stqte Cannabis Control Board will be holding a Public Hearing 11 a.m Thursday December 18.
I did not see any Agenda listed in the media advisory or on the OCM website.
Is the application for the Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary on the Agenda for this meeting?
Please send me the Agenda as well as any materials relating to the application for the Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary?
A spokesperson for OCM replied later that day:
The agenda and information for next week’s CCB Meeting will be on the website shortly.
I asked again today:
When will the Agenda for the December 18 Cannabis Board meeting be made public. I don’t see it on your website.
I’m trying to find out if the Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary application by Empire Flower Inc at 520 Main Street is on the Agenda for the December 18 Board meeting?
Can you confirm that the Roosevelt Island Cannabis application is on the December 18 meeting Agenda?
Thank you for your assistance.
The OCM spokesperson replied:
With the agenda every month goes up 24 hours before the meeting so the agenda for this meeting will be up Wednesday, December 17 by 11 AM.
I followed up:
How are concerned residents supposed to be able to make public comments about a proposed Cannabis Dispensary application in their neighborhood if they only find out about a hearing the day before it happens?
Can you confirm today if the Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary application is on the Agenda for December 18 meeting?
The OCM spokesperson answered:
The cannabis control board meetings are not hearings.
The public has been notified about the cannabis control board meeting on Thursday, December 18 and where they can submit public comment since last week.
Please refer to the agenda that will be posted at 11 AM on Wednesday, December 18.
Have a good day.
The OCM spokesperson’s next to last sentence about the date of the Agenda posting is a mistake. Wednesday is the 17th.
Check here on Wednesday December 17 to see if the Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary application is on the OCM December 18 Agenda and submit any public comments. You can also view the live streaming of the meeting here.
Here’s the November 11 CB 8 Street Life Committee discussion of the Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary application including a presentation by the owner Empire Flower and comments by Roosevelt Island residents.
And the November 19 full CB 8 Board meeting rejecting the Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary application.
UPDATE 12/18 – The Roosevelt Island Cannabis Dispensary application was not on the Cannabis Control Board December 18 meeting Agenda.