New York City opened its first legal dispensary in the city at 4.20pm on Thursday as Mayor Eric Adams claimed it is a ‘promising step.’

Housing Works Cannabis Co. in lower Manhattan sold the first order of legal cannabis in the state since recreational weed was legalized in 2021 for residents aged 21 and over.

Legal marijuana sales throughout the state are estimated to result in $1.3 billion, and the state is offering the first 150 licenses for the legal sale to people – and their relatives – who have been previously convicted of dealing or selling the drug.

‘Today marks a major milestone in our efforts to create the most equitable cannabis industry in the nation,’ Adams wrote in a statement.

‘The opening of the first legal dispensary in our state right here in New York City is more than just a promising step for this budding industry — it represents a new chapter for those most harmed by the failed policies of the past.’