The office of New York’s new governor Kathy Hochul, who replaced disgraced Andrew Cuomo this week, says the cannabis file is a “priority,” reports Marijuana Moment.
You will recall, a few weeks back, there were differing opinions about what the replacement of Governor Cuomo would mean for cannabis: What does Cuomo’s resignation mean for New York cannabis?
Keep it moving
First on the table: staffing up the regulatory positions needed to implement legislation — something Cuomo is accused of dragging his feet on.
“Nominating and confirming individuals with diverse experiences and subject matter expertise, who are representative of communities from across the state, to the Cannabis Control Board is a priority for Gov. Hochul,” spokesperson Jordan Bennett told The New York Post. “We look forward to working with the legislature to keep this process moving forward.”
A long to-do list
The new members of the state’s Cannabis Control Board, whose roles require sign-off from the Senate, will have plenty to do.
While adults 21+ can smoke cannabis wherever tobacco-smoking is permitted (including the New York State Fair: Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em at the NY State Fair: Officials) and possess up to three ounces of cannabis flower or 24 grams of concentrates, there aren’t any stores set up for sales yet.
And not a day too soon
New York advocates are envious of neighboring New Jersey, which has already released its rules regulating legal cannabis, and say it’s time to get going on the legal framework for sales in the state.
“New Yorkers have been clear that cannabis is a critical criminal justice issue that the administration should be prioritizing,” said Kassandra Frederique, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. “And they’ve also been clear that they want to see the communities that have been most impacted governing the new market and the larger regulatory institution.”
Are you interested in what’s happening in New York cannabis? Join us for Business of Cannabis: New York on September 29.
