The top of the Empire State Building won’t be the only place visitors to New York can get high as the city opens its first legal dispensary for recreational marijuana in city today (Dec. 29), marking a long-awaited launch of a cannabis industry that could become one of the most lucrative US.

Housing Works, a minority-controlled non-profit in Manhattan that serves people with HIV and AIDS, will be the first of 36 recently licensed dispensaries to begin selling cannabis to the general public – even though dozens of illegal shops have been in operation for many months.

The opening comes one month after the state’s Cannabis Control Board took a monumental step in establishing a legal marketplace for marijuana by issuing the first round of licenses. In the coming months, the state is expected to issue an additional 139 licenses, with about 900 applicants waiting to learn their fate.

“The industry will continue to grow from here, creating inclusive opportunity in every corner of New York State with revenues directed to our schools and revitalizing communities,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul.

New York legalized recreational use of marijuana in March 2021.

Housing Works, which also serves homeless and formerly incarcerated people, was one of eight non-profits among the initial licensees.

“This opportunity will not only give our team the resources to further our overall mission, but to feature and elevate products coming from LGBTQ+, BIPOC and women-led cannabis brands across the state,” said Charles King, chief executive officer of Housing Works.

The state reserved its first round of retail licenses for applicants with marijuana convictions or their relatives, plus some non-profit groups. It also planned a $200 million public-private fund to aid “social equity” applicants.