Last verified: March 2026

Nassau County: The Near-Total Ban

Nassau County represents the most restrictive cannabis environment in the New York metropolitan area. Only 5 of 69 municipalities opted in to allow dispensaries, meaning effectively zero recreational dispensaries operate in the entire county. For a suburban county of 1.4 million people bordering New York City, this creates a dramatic cannabis desert.

The opt-out decision was driven by a combination of suburban politics, law enforcement opposition, and concerns about proximity to schools and residential areas. However, industry attorneys predict a wave of opt-in reversals as communities watch neighboring jurisdictions collect the 4% local tax revenue — money that could fund schools, infrastructure, and services.

Suffolk County: Limited Access

Suffolk County is slightly more permissive than Nassau, with about 6 licensed dispensaries concentrated in Farmingdale (bordering Nassau) and Riverhead. The county's eastern reaches, including the Hamptons and the North Fork, remain largely without legal cannabis access.

• The Botanist Farmingdale — Acreage Holdings' Long Island location, one of the few RO-operated dispensaries serving the island.
• Curaleaf Carle Place — Located near the Nassau-Suffolk border, serving the broader Long Island market.

The Shinnecock Nation

The Shinnecock Indian Nation operates Little Beach Harvest on their Southampton reservation, independent of state regulation. As a sovereign nation, the Shinnecock are not subject to New York's cannabis laws or opt-out decisions. Their dispensary offers a legal cannabis option in an area where municipal governments have largely opted out.

Other Native American nations across New York also operate independently. The Seneca Nation has approximately 100+ dispensaries on its territories, and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe licensed 16 retailers through their own Cannabis Control Board. These operations are tax-free, creating price advantages that draw consumers from surrounding areas.

The Opt-Out Math

Statewide, more than 845 of 1,528 municipalities opted out of dispensaries, consumption sites, or both. The 4% local tax — split 75/25 between municipalities and counties — is becoming an increasingly persuasive argument for fence-sitting communities. Municipalities can opt back in at any time but cannot opt out again once they reverse.

Where Long Island Residents Buy

Without local dispensaries, many Long Island residents travel to New York City or use delivery services. Licensed dispensaries in Queens and Brooklyn serve a significant Long Island customer base, and cannabis delivery services cover Long Island and Westchester.