You may recall that earlier this year a cannabis license for 71-10 Grand Ave was opposed by our local elected officials because the location was within the 500ft buffer zone for School of Heroes. Unexpectedly, the Cannabis Board agreed with those against it when it published new guidelines for interpreting what the 500ft buffer was. The original interpretation measured the distance door-to-door, but the new interpretation measures from the door of the business to the perimeter of the school. This now puts the prospective licensee too close for approval. Meanwhile, existing legal businesses that now fall within the revised buffer zone received notices that they may be closed. This has Albany lawmakers scrambling to pass legislation to grandfather these businesses in, and in turn the businesses have filed a lawsuit against the state for threatening their existence.