New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) last week signed a bill extending the licenses of cannabis cultivators and processors as the state has been slow to get the adult-use market off the ground. The current state permits are still considered provisional as state regulators have not yet issued permanent licenses.
The law extends the licenses until June 30, 2024.
The bill also extends the adult-use program’s social equity goals by requiring conditional license holders to participate in a social equity mentorship program.
In a statement, State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D), the bill’s sponsor who also serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the package of four bills she authored that recently passed the state legislature “will strengthen…Upstate and Hudson Valley Communities.”
“Across New York State, agriculture is a core industry that has shaped our local landscape, economy, and way of life, and I’m proud that four of my bills supporting different needs within this industry have passed the Senate this week.” — Hinchey in a press release
According to the state Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the state has awarded 215 adult-use cannabis retail licenses since the marketplace went into effect; however, dispensaries have been slow to open throughout the state. According to OCM data, there are currently just 12 operational adult-use retailers, three of which are operating as delivery-only services until they are able to open their brick-and-mortar locations.
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