BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The New York State Cannabis Control Board this week suddenly canceled a meeting at which many dispensary license applicants had hoped to receive approval to move forward.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's office said Friday she did not demand the cancellation, but did reach out to voice displeasure after learning the board was only ready to approve three new retail licenses at the scheduled meeting.

"My team got involved and said, 'No, go back to the drawing board. Work harder. Get this done.' And no, I'm not satisfied with the pace," Hochul said Friday at an event in Buffalo.

Hochul said the expectation was the board would consider more than 400 retail and grower licenses before the scheduled Wednesday meeting. The slow and clumsy pace has led to plenty of criticism from applicants who are getting tired of waiting.

"They're absolutely right," Hochul said. "I'll tell you right now, I'm very fed up with how long it is taking to get these approvals."

The governor did point out the delays are not solely the fault of the board or the Office of Cannabis Management. She said many of the issues stem from litigation led by "larger conglomerates" that succesfully stopped the system she "inherited" in its tracks for roughly nine months.