New York's 600th licensed cannabis store, Pure Blossoms Cannabis, has opened on the Upper West Side. The opening marks a milestone in the five years following the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), which legalized recreational cannabis use. However, advocates, and dispensary applicants have expressed frustration over the process, which has been marked by confusion and inefficiency. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) hopes to streamline the process from application to opening a location. The Bronx Cannabis Hub, an initiative developed by the Bronx Defenders to assist social equity applicants seeking a Conditional Adult Use Cannabis Dispensary license, screened around 350 applicants for the feasibility of gaining a license.