From AMNY: Family-run Tribeca dispensary among 89 NYC shops in limbo after cannabis law misstep; Hochul vows no closures amid scramble for legislative fix

ABOVE: Stephanie Savocchi, co-founder of Alto dispensary, works behind the counter at the family-run cannabis shop in Tribeca on Aug. 1. The business is among dozens statewide impacted by a state zoning miscalculation now under legislative review.

Photo by Adam daly

Gov. Kathy Hochul is promising that 89 licensed cannabis dispensaries in New York City, and dozens more statewide, will not be forced to shut down after the state’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced that those retail dispensary locations are out of compliance with the state’s proximity rules.

The OCM informed the 152 cannabis businesses and license applicants statewide on Monday that, following an internal review, the state body had not been properly applying the law that prohibits any cannabis retail storefront from operating within 500 feet of school grounds.

Since its inception in 2022, OCM has been using an incorrect method to assess the dispensary’s distance from school grounds: measuring from entrance to entrance.

Under the corrected approach and stricter interpretation of the 2021 Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, OCM is now measuring the distance as a straight line from the dispensary’s main entrance to the nearest school property line.

Applicants and 108 licensed businesses across the state were notified that their proposed or current locations do not comply with the law, leaving them in limbo to wait for a resolution or search for alternative premises.

The majority of those affected are in the five boroughs, with 38 applicants and 89 licensees located in non-compliant zones.

For Alto, a family-run dispensary in Tribeca, a miscalculation of fewer than 20 feet has pushed them out of compliance with state cannabis law — leaving the Savocchi family blindsided and grappling with the possibility of having to rebuild their business from the ground up.

“We got the email at like, three minutes to five this past Monday, and I couldn’t even believe what I was reading,” said André Savocchi, one of five siblings who opened Alto alongside their parents last Labor Day weekend. “I was silent for the rest of the day; it just didn’t seem real.”

The Savocchi family said they followed the rules to the letter, navigated the state’s complex cannabis laws, and turned a shuttered bar that had sat vacant for two years into a sleek dispensary.

Renovations were extensive and expensive. “The air conditioning alone was over $100,000,” Sandra, the family’s matriarch, said, adding that the building had to be converted to electric due to a gas leak.

“They told us, yes,” Sandra recalled. “The OCM had to measure and tell us, ‘Yes, this is a viable location. You can proceed.” Now, they will have to wait at least another five months before they know their fate.

“We’re still having sleepless nights,” she said, despite assurances from the state.

Alto operates under a 12-year lease with a five-year extension option and recently took on six non-family staff members amid its growing customer base.

“We just want to stay in the location we built, the one that was approved from the beginning,” André said. He recalled the difficulty of securing a compliant location and a landlord willing to lease to a cannabis business, noting that many had federal mortgage restrictions.

The idea of relocating now, he said, “seems like it would be impossible.”

Since news broke Monday, Gov. Hochul has been steadfast in assuring those affected that they will “not be punished for the failures of past OCM leadership.”

“At her direction, the State is taking immediate action to support cannabis store owners impacted by this issue,” a spokesperson for the Governor said. “We are laser-focused on making sure these small business owners, who have poured their heart and soul into these shops, aren’t left paying the price for the previous leadership’s screw-up.”

According to a senior official in Hochul’s office, the governor was briefed on the situation recently and “furious” about the impact on small businesses. She reportedly convened staff immediately after learning of the problem and directed OCM to find a resolution “with the least amount of harm possible.”

At the governor’s direction, OCM on Monday released an advisory assuring current license holders that no renewal decisions will be made until lawmakers can consider a fix, which could possibly be when the state legislature convenes at the beginning of next year.

The Savocchi family remains hopeful. They say they’ve received a supportive phone call from OCM staff and feel that the state body wants to do right by them, even as uncertainty weighs on them.

“Now, it’s torturous,” Sandra added. “A waiting game. You don’t know which way to go.”

The OCM stated that for license holders who are due to renew during the limbo period, the State Administrative Produce Act will allow them to operate under the expired license if they submit their renewal application “timely and sufficient.”

“OCM will consider a renewal application ‘timely’ if the licensee submits for renewal on or before the date their license expires,” according to an advisory. “OCM will consider the licensee’s renewal application “sufficient” if there are no significant deficiencies in the application. If such conditions are met, the OCM will consider such a licensee eligible to continue operating.”

Hochul also directed the creation of a $15 million applicant relief program, which offers up to $250,000 in assistance to impacted applicants who have not yet opened.

That program does not apply to current licensees, though the governor said she is committed to ensuring none are “punished” for the “screw-up” of prior OCM leadership.

Speaking to NY1 yesterday, Governor Hochul was asked whether existing dispensaries could be grandfathered in through an exemption to the current proximity statute.

“I’d like to do that,” Hochul responded. “I don’t want them hurt. They’re part of our community already, they’re working hard, they waited a long time for this, and, basically, I don’t want them screwed.”

The OCM did not immediately respond to a request for comment or to provide the names and locations of impacted businesses, though Gothamist previously published the full list.

The body stated that it will propose and actively pursue legislation that would allow affected licensees to remain at their current locations. However, the agency emphasized that passage of the proposed legislation is at the discretion of the state Legislature and “not a guarantee.”

“If the Legislature does not amend the law or amends the law in a fashion that does not remedy a license location’s noncompliance with the Cannabis Law, the renewal application must be
denied,” the advisory reads.

Given the uncertainty, Jeffrey Hoffman, a cannabis attorney whose clients are among the affected, believes the OCM and Cannabis Control Board will be on the hook for “significant damages” over the faux pas.

“That is why they are trying to get out in front of it, admitting their error, and offering something to those impacted,” Hoffman told amNewYork.

When asked about the legal course of the affected licensees and applicants, Hoffman predicts there will be “lawsuits all the way down.”

“The state has significant exposure to liability. A legislative fix may work, but it’s not clear to me that it’s a certainty,” he said, noting that at the moment, open stores are not guaranteed they will be able to renew their licenses at their current locations, while applicants who had proximity protection at now non-viable locations will not be able to open.

“If they are not very well capitalized, this might be the end of the road for them,” Hoffman said of the implications for cannabis entrepreneurs, many of whom spent years navigating bureaucratic hurdles.

“Imagine being locked into a 10-year lease or worse, having bought a building at a location you can no longer use,” he added.

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Altocanna x Weedmaps Customer Appreciation Event

By Nicole Savocchi • October 29, 2026

Altocanna and Weedmaps are throwing a Customer Appreciation Event on Friday, October 30, from 3 to 6 PM at our shop at 110 Chambers St in Tribeca. It is free to attend, open to adults 21 and older, and it comes with merch giveaways, light bites and a raffle for two Puffco devices and two tickets to Blood Manor, the Tribeca haunted house. This post covers what the event is, what to expect, how to get here and what to know before you come. If you only need the basics, the quick facts are right below. The Event at a Glance What: Altocanna x Weedmaps Customer Appreciation Event When: Friday, October 30, 3 to 6 PM Where: Altocanna on Chambers, 110 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007 (Tribeca) Cost: Free Who: Adults 21 and older What is happening: Merch giveaways, light bites, and a raffle for two Puffco devices and two tickets to Blood Manor Event listing: Halloween x Weedmaps on Weedmaps What Is the Altocanna and Weedmaps Customer Appreciation Event? It is our way of saying thank you. Altocanna is a licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary on Chambers Street, and the people who walk through our doors are the reason the shop is part of Tribeca. This event, hosted with Weedmaps, is a few hours set aside to celebrate them with some Halloween season fun. Weedmaps lists the event on its platform as "Halloween x Weedmaps," a pop up with raffles, prizes and free swag. On our flyer it is called a Customer Appreciation Event. It is the same afternoon, at the same address, so if you see either name, you are looking at the same event. You do not need to be a regular to join. If you have been meaning to visit the shop, a relaxed afternoon with a friendly crowd is an easy first visit. If you already shop with us, come say hello. What to Expect on Friday, October 30 The event runs for three hours, and you can stop by at any point between 3 and 6 PM. Here is what we have planned. Merch Giveaways Weedmaps is bringing free merch for guests. Giveaways are first come, first served while supplies last, so earlier in the afternoon is the safer bet if you want to be sure to take something home. Light Bites We will have light bites on hand so you are not browsing on an empty stomach. Think of it as a small thank you, not a full meal. The Raffle This is the headline. One raffle, two sets of prizes: two Puffco devices and two tickets to Blood Manor. More on that below. Friendly Faces Our team will be here all afternoon. If you have questions about what is on our menu, how pickup works or what is new in the shop, this is a relaxed time to ask. The Raffle: Two Puffco Devices and Two Blood Manor Tickets The raffle is for two Puffco devices and two tickets to Blood Manor. Our team will explain how to enter when you arrive, and the Official Rules apply to the raffle. You must be 21 or older to enter. Puffco is a well known name in the cannabis accessories world, and a device is a prize many of our customers will be glad to win. We have kept the details simple on purpose: the prizes are the devices themselves, and winners will be announced at the event. Blood Manor is a haunted house at 359 Broadway, a short walk from our door. According to its website, it is about 10,000 square feet of themed rooms and passageways, and it calls itself NYC's Scariest Haunted House Attraction. You can check dates, hours and ticket information on the official Blood Manor website . Tickets are provided by Blood Manor and are subject to its availability and rules. If you win Blood Manor tickets, our Tribeca haunted house guide covers what to expect inside, how the timed entry works and how to plan the rest of your night. Why We Are Hosting This Event There is a simple reason for the afternoon. Our customers are why Altocanna is here, and an in person thank you is better than a thank you in an email. Altocanna is a CAURD licensed, majority women owned and social justice owned business, and being part of Tribeca is something we take seriously. Events like this keep us connected to the neighborhood: customers who live nearby, people who work in Lower Manhattan, and visitors who find us while they are out for the day. The event also gives us a chance to work alongside Weedmaps, a platform many people in New York use to find dispensaries, and to team up with a local neighbor, Blood Manor, for the Halloween season. A Quick Word About Weedmaps Weedmaps is an online platform where people find cannabis dispensaries and see what they offer, and it hosts event listings like this one. Altocanna is listed on Weedmaps, and the event page there has the details of the afternoon. If you found us through Weedmaps, welcome. You are in the right place. You can see the event on the Weedmaps listing for Halloween x Weedmaps , and learn more about the platform at weedmaps.com . How to Get to Altocanna on Chambers We are at 110 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007, between West Broadway and Church St, in the heart of Tribeca. By subway: The 1, 2 and 3 trains and the A and C trains stop at Chambers St, a short walk away. The R and W trains stop at City Hall, also close by. On foot or by bike: If you are coming from the west side of Tribeca, the Hudson River Greenway is an easy way in. From the Financial District: Walking up Church St brings you straight to our block. Many guests come from the neighborhoods around us, including the Financial District, SoHo, Battery Park City, Chinatown, the West Village and the Lower East Side. If you work in Lower Manhattan, 3 to 6 PM on a Friday is a good time to stop by on the way home. What to Bring and What to Know A few simple notes will make your visit smoother. Bring valid government issued ID. You must be 21 or older, and a valid ID is required to shop with us. Know the basics of New York law. Adults 21 and older may possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis. If you have questions about the rules, our team is glad to explain what we can. Come with a friend. A group is welcome as long as everyone is 21 or older, and sharing the afternoon makes the raffle more fun. Plan your timing. The event runs from 3 to 6 PM. Giveaways are while supplies last. Ask questions. Our team is happy to help, whether you are a first timer or know exactly what you like. If you are new to dispensaries, our staff can walk you through how everything works. There is no pressure and no wrong question. Make an Afternoon of It in Tribeca Friday, October 30 falls right at the start of Halloween weekend, and Tribeca is a good place to be. Walk around the neighborhood, take in the decorations and look for a coffee or an early dinner nearby before or after the event. If you are curious about the haunted house next door, our Blood Manor and Halloween in Tribeca guide will help you plan the evening. Frequently Asked Questions When is the Altocanna and Weedmaps Customer Appreciation Event? It takes place on Friday, October 30, from 3 to 6 PM. Where is the event? At Altocanna on Chambers, 110 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007, in Tribeca. Is the event free? Yes. Admission to the event is free. Who can attend? Adults 21 and older. Please bring a valid government issued ID. What will be at the event? Merch giveaways, light bites and a raffle for two Puffco devices and two tickets to Blood Manor. Giveaways are while supplies last. Where can I see the event listing? On Weedmaps, under "Halloween x Weedmaps" for Altocanna. The listing is linked above. How do I get to Altocanna? Take the 1, 2 or 3 train or the A or C train to Chambers St, or the R or W train to City Hall. We are between West Broadway and Church St. See You on October 30 Thank you to everyone who has shopped with us, shared us with a friend or stopped in to say hello. We are looking forward to seeing you on Friday, October 30, from 3 to 6 PM at 110 Chambers St. Come hungry for light bites, curious about the raffle and ready for a good time. Questions before you come? Call us at (212) 933 4737. 21+ only. Valid government issued ID required. Giveaways while supplies last. Raffle subject to Official Rules. Altocanna, Weedmaps and Blood Manor are independent businesses.

What Is Drink Pink? Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Close-up of a grotesque monster face with red eyes in dark blue-purple lighting

Win Free Blood Manor Tickets with Altocanna this Halloween!

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Altocanna and Blood Manor team up for Halloween in Tribeca. Learn about NYC's haunted house, plan your night, and enter to win a pair of tickets. 21+.

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Ran or cheered the NYC Marathon? Join Altocanna and 1906 on Nov 2 in Tribeca for Medal Monday. Free, 21+, RSVP required. Medal perk for runners.

Recycle Your Empty Cannabis Vapes at Altocanna With Fernway

By Andre Savocchi • October 23, 2026

Recycle your empty cannabis vapes at Altocanna in Tribeca. Learn how the Fernway recycling program works and how to take part on your next visit.

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Altocanna Named an Official Neighborhood Partner of the Tribeca Festival

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Newspaper front page with headline “La Ciociaria insegna a guadagnarti tutto, la rivincita negli Usa” and photo of two women

Altocanna makes International -- News From Ciociaria to New York: A Story of Resilience, Roots, and Reinvention

By Nicole Savocchi • April 29, 2026

The journey from a small Italian town to the fast-paced streets of New York City is not an easy one—but for Guido Savocchi, it became the foundation for building both a life and a business rooted in perseverance, family, and purpose.