Denis Ozkurt, left, and Levent Ozkurt consider cannabis products for their dispensary on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023.
Photo Aliya Schneider
Levent and Denis Ozkurt thought they finally had the green light to open their state-regulated recreational cannabis dispensary on Williamsbridge Road Friday. But they hit another bump in the road this week when a judge reversed his decision allowing them to open their doors.
As part of a legal battle against the statewide retail cannabis rollout, state officials were supposed to submit a list of dispensaries to the court that met all requirements for licensing. Instead, they sent a list of 30 that included shops still finalizing construction — making it impossible to pass the compliance check required for a full license.
“It is not clear to this Court whether any of the thirty identified licensees have completed all post-selection requirements and inspections and it should be clear that those who have not, should not have been included on the list submitted to the Court as set forth in the prior Order,” Judge Kevin Bryant said in his Monday decision.
However, the Ozkurts — the only Bronx dispensary owners on the list — received all the necessary approvals. They only needed to obtain the actual license for their shop, which is called Hush — a tribute to the “hush-hush” nature of the dispensaries.
“There is nothing else for us to do besides just literally receiving the license,” Levent Ozkurt told the Bronx Times. “We fulfilled all of their requirements, all of their inspections, everything.”
The cousins passed their compliance inspection on Aug. 3 and even received an official label to put on their 2460 Williamsbridge Road storefront signaling state approval. They expected to receive their license a couple of days later, but it never arrived.
Judge allows Williamsbridge Road dispensary to open amid statewide cannabis legal battle
Just the day before the Ozkurts’…
Read the full article here