CANNABIS/MARIJUANA/POT SHOP, DISPENSARY QUERIES

With the news that a cannabis/pot shop/marijuana dispensary has opened at the former Nursery adjacent to St. Augustine in Ossining, the blog has been overrun with questions and comments this rainy Sunday. Some can be answered; for others, however, you will have to your own research....and accept the reality that Croton did not opt out when it could have.

---For example, you are strongly urged to spend some time at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management website; it will soon become illuminating, for so many reasons; go to Office of Cannabis Management | Office of Cannabis Management

---To those who have asked, just how many of these places are around "the immediate area":

Well, there's three dispensaries in Ossining; there's 4 in Peekskill; there's 1 "brick and mortar" in Cortlandt Manor. (Then there are the "illegal" businesses). There are also dispensaries in Sleepy Hollow, etc. And of course, Croton will soon have its own dispensary and possible pot shop re-zoning.

---Once again, there are some readers who believe this business will provide the  community with a "goldmine of revenue". Uh no. Here's the breakdown for Peekskill:

PER GOOGLE AI WITH LINKS TO DOCUMENTATION: The City of Peekskill projected it would receive $126,000 in local sales tax revenue from cannabis dispensaries. This figure is expected to grow to more than $170,000 annually once five dispensaries are fully operational.

City of Peekskill NY (.gov)

Despite initial projections from early state proposals hinting that a single dispensary could bring in up to $460,000 annually, the actual revenue flowing into the city's coffers has been much more modest. Under New York State law, a 13% tax is imposed on retail cannabis sales. Of that, 3% goes directly to the local municipality (the city, town, or village) hosting the dispensary.
Peekskill Herald 

The realistic breakdown of Peekskill's cannabis tax revenue reveals why local officials have raised questions about a revenue deficit relative to the number of shops opening (Peekskill Herald)

Initial Collections: In the first quarter of 2025, Peekskill pulled in just $28,000 in sales tax from its first two open dispensaries.
City of Peekskill NY (.gov)

Oversaturation Concerns: The modest tax returns have sparked local debate. City council members noted that with a population of roughly 26,000, having five dispensaries creates a ratio of about one shop per 5,000 residents. This has raised concerns about market oversaturation and lower-than-expected revenue per store. (Peekskill Herald)

The Illegal Market Impact: Throughout New York, local tax collections have lagged behind the rapid pace of dispensary openings due to heavy competition from the illicit market, which continues to divert business away from legal, tax-paying storefronts.

You can track Peekskill's local financial updates and upcoming council discussions on the City of Peekskill Official Website or read regional reporting on the rollout via the Peekskill Herald.

---And finally: you are strongly urged to spend some time on the social media/facebook community pages belonging to those communities with this type of business: Ossining, Peekskill, Tarrytown, Yonkers, etc. etc. etc. Often, once you cut through the chatter, there are useful documents and links posted---etc.