For many of New York’s marijuana license awardees, being able to open their own store, legally, was a dream come true — and a chance to reverse their fortunes after having previous weed convictions.

But now, delay after delay two years into the state’s legal marijuana industry has left many of them frustrated. And, more critically, it’s left them without the stores they’ve long figured would be open by now, reports Mona Zhang, POLITICO’s states cannabis policy reporter.

When New York lawmakers voted to legalize marijuana in March 2021 after years of political wrangling, it was seen as a landmark moment. Not only because it was the second largest state to do so, but also because of the strong social justice provisions.

Regulators are reserving the first dispensary licenses for those who have had past cannabis convictions or an immediate family member with a past conviction — a way to try to repair the decades of criminalization of marijuana that disproportionately impacted minority communities.

But fewer than 20 licensed shops have opened, and the state has struggled to put a clamp on the illegal market that has overwhelmed the legal one.

“Am I satisfied? Absolutely not. I’m not satisfied with the pace,” Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters June 22 after announcing more efforts to crack down on the illegal market.

State regulators are trying to cut through all the red tape and improve the licensing process, including raising a floundering $200 million public-private fund to help the marijuana entrepreneurs.

But in the meantime, the potential shop owners are miffed, as Zhang reports. Hochul said to expect more store openings soon.

“It is frustrating for those who have been anticipating the opportunity to open businesses, and we have to overcome a lot of hurdles,” she said. “We’re making changes.”

IT’S WEDNESDAY.

WHERE’S KATHY? In Erie County with no immediate public schedule.

WHERE’S ERIC? No public events scheduled.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The question we want to answer is were we prepared, and if not — and I think we were not — then what do we have to do to be prepared for the next one,” said New York City Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) regarding Mayor Eric Adams’ response to the smoke from the Canadian wildfires.

FINK FINALE: After 11 years as the Albany Bureau reporter for NY1, Zack Fink announced Friday on Twitter that he is moving on.

He was a regular sight at the state Capitol, camera in hand as he asked questions of governors and lawmakers — often pointed and direct, but with a charm that landed him scoop after scoop.

Now, Fink will be joining the firm Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, focusing on government relations and public affairs, per a news release set to go public Wednesday and shared first with Playbook.

In his new role, Fink will serve as director of external affairs of the firm, which has several offices including in Manhattan, Albany and Washington.

“Zack Fink has been a familiar face in the halls of government for many years, earning the respect of those in power and serving as a trusted communicator of news and ideas to everyday New Yorkers,” Sid Davidoff, the firm’s founder and chairman of its government affairs practice, said in the news release.

“These skills are critical to the success of any good government affairs professional, and we are pleased to welcome him into that role at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron.”

Prior to his work in Albany, Fink covered North Jersey politics for NJN-TV, the New Jersey PBS affiliate and eventually became the network’s Trenton statehouse reporter.

“I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had working as a reporter covering politics. Particularly these last 11 years here in New York, where I was born and raised,” Fink said in the statement.

“It’s been an honor to meet and work with so many influential newsmakers and opinion leaders. Now I look forward to the next chapter, joining the prestigious firm of Davidoff Hutcher and Citron, which has been at the epicenter of business and politics.”

And of course, long live the Finkwich. — Joseph Spector

PICS FROM LAST NIGHT: Chase Sutton, a photo editor for POLITICO, caught the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks.

NYC Council to review Mayor Adams’ response to smoke from Canadian wildfires and impact on air quality, by Daily News’ Michael Gartland: “On the afternoon of June 6, when the smoke first began to cover the city, Adams’ team posted a tweet warning New Yorkers to ‘limit your outdoor activities,’ as the smoke can be dangerous to inhale. But it took until 11:30 p.m. that night for his administration to announce all outdoor activities at public schools would be suspended the next day.”

New Migrants Have a Year to Apply for Asylum. Many Won’t Make It, by The New York Times’ Hurubie Meko & Raul Vilchis: “‘Our immigration system is broken,’ said Henry Love, vice president for policy and advocacy at Win, which runs 14 family shelters and has a contract with New York City to house migrant families. ‘You’re going to have so many people who won’t have the opportunity to apply for asylum simply because of the logistical complications of it,’ he said, adding: ‘I have a Ph.D., and there’s no way I could do it.’”

Harlem shake-up: How a Council upset returned Keith Wright from ‘the wilderness’, by Gothamist’s Michelle Bocanegra

NYC Correction Commissioner Louis Molina suspends captain working as investigator for not signing jail logbook (Exclusive), by Daily News’ Graham Rayman

In New York Senate, lawmakers change their votes, sometimes days later, By The Buffalo News’ Chris Bragg: “In the State Senate’s rules, created by the Democratic majority, there is no provision allowing votes taken by lawmakers to be retroactively altered, nor is there any rule dictating the amount of time a lawmaker has to request such a change. Yet, it is a practice that exists within the chamber.”

How New York wants to make it easier to join state workforce, by New York State and Politics’ Nick Reisman

NY jails must provide opioid medication, but rollout has been bumpy, by Times Union’s Raga Justin

— It almost didn’t happen before it did. Joey Chestnut won the hotdog eating contest, again. (Gothamist)

— 50 school sharks were spotted off a Long Island beach. Two teens were bitten, officials say. (NYPost)

— Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin threw the first pitch Monday at the Yankee Stadium. (Lohud)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NYT’s David Sanger … Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) … Laura Peavey … Walt Cronkite of Latham and Watkins … CBS’ Alisa Wiersema … NBC’s Julie Shapiro … former Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) … Steve Rattner of Willett Advisors … Julie Nixon Eisenhower … Alexandra de Rienzo … Alexandra Kinney McBride … Jake Potent, director of policy and government affairs at Revel

... (was Tuesday): Geraldo Rivera (8-0) … Matt Katz … WSJ’s Natalie Andrews … former Rep. Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.) … Sunshine Sachs’ Taylor Friedman … Sasha Graffagna … Tyler Cheney …

… (was Monday): Rick Powell … AFP’s Shaun Tandon ... POLITICO’s Heidi Vogt … CNN’s Lindy Royce-Bartlett ... Maya Serkin … Sandra Lee … Gloria Allred … Andrew Peek … James Lightbourne … Julian Assange ... Rick Sanchez … Mariana Vallejo

... (was Sunday): Jonathan Capehart … Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) … NBC’s Tom Llamas and Keith Morrison … Daniel A. Alter ... Reuters’ Michele Gershberg … Derek Gianino of Wells Fargo … Katherine Lehr … Trevor Neilson …

… (was Saturday): NBC’s Kristen Welker … Diane Ravitch … Brett Zongker … Mike Czin of SKDK … Pierson Fowler … (was Friday): David Altshuler ... Dov Hikind ... Noam Lustiger ... Jordan Levine ... Abbey Taub (h/ts Jewish Insider)

MAKING MOVES — Maxwell Young’s last day as the mayor’s communications director was Friday. He offered some thoughts on his 1.5 years in City Hall in this tweet thread. … Megan Paulsen is now executive assistant for government affairs at Americans for Prosperity. She most recently was director of operations for Rep. Brandon Williams (R-N.Y.).

ENGAGED — Enrico Bueno da Silveira Leite, an attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, on Friday proposed to Ashley Bahnken, director of brand growth intelligence at Tom Ford. They got engaged at the private terrace at L’Oiseau Blanc at the Peninsula Hotel in Paris. The couple met while they were both at Georgetown for grad school. Pic … Another pic

Will Carbaugh, project manager at Hoar Construction, on Saturday proposed to Reade Pickert, U.S. economy reporter and editor at Bloomberg News. The couple met at a tailgate in college back in 2015.

Looming Climate Law Has Co-op and Condo Owners Fretting About Funds to Retrofit Buildings, by THE CITY’s Haidee Chu