September 15, 2023 08:00 am ETEstimated Read Time: 3 Minutes
A recent New York vote could make space for the largest adult-use cannabis market on the East Coast. New York regulators voted Tuesday to allow the state’s medical cannabis operators to apply for adult-use retail licenses.
Essentially, this vote means that the multistate operators who acquired the majority of the state’s “registered organization” permits may now enter what could be the largest cannabis industry market on the East Coast.
What Does This Vote Mean for the New York Cannabis Market?
Regulators will begin to accept applications from qualified organizations seeking a retail or microbusiness license starting Oct. 4. These applications will close Dec. 23.
The vote, confirming a proposal from May by the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), carries significant implications.
Litigation aimed at expanding licensing opportunities for all applicants may become irrelevant. This lawsuit was initiated by some of the same MSOs who previously sued the state in March, operating under the banner of the Coalition for Access to Safe and Regulated Cannabis.
Secondly, the state’s social equity applicants and existing license holders are feeling abandoned and let down. Many among them are still awaiting the opportunity to open their establishments due to bureaucratic delays and ongoing legal challenges, which have hindered the state’s ambitious Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program.
This vote occurred one week after the CEOs of four multistate operators passionately appealed to New York Governor Kathy Hochul for expedited entry into the state’s adult-use market.
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
Nevertheless, Barry Carmody, a spokesperson for the New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association (NYMCIA), explored the historic nature of this vote at a Cannabis Control Board meeting in Albany: “Today marks a pivotal step toward expanding and sustaining the state’s medical program and creation of an economically viable and equitable adult-use cannabis industry in New York.”
Ongoing Litigation Shadows New York’s Adult-Use Licensing Process
While this vote will impact multistate cannabis operations, several lawsuits are still at play that will affect the final legislation.
OCM is facing two separate pending lawsuits, one from the state’s Management Services Organizations and another by a group of veterans previously shut out by the CAURD program.
These “service-disabled” veterans filed a suit against cannabis regulators earlier this year that challenged the constitutional legality of the CAURD program. This lawsuit argued that CAURD’s system of issuing licenses to certain social equity applicants violated state law while excluding veterans from these application benefits.
Will This Vote Affect New York Cannabis Small Business?
Cannabis farmers and small business owners in New York spoke back to the OCM about how this legislation will impact their operations. Essentially, many small cannabis business owners feel as though the vote favors “big cannabis,” squashing the efforts of state-based organizations.
The Cannabis Association of New York (CANY) represents these smaller and state-based cannabis businesses. As such, CANY is pushing for three changes to the existing legislation:
Move to eradicate the state’s illicit market
Implement identical canopy limits on small businesses and registered organizations
Reform the state’s potency tax that charges higher tax rates for cannabis concentrates.
Kymberly is a Pennsylvania native and cannabis enthusiast. When she's not scouring the racks at the thrift store, Kym can be found rollerblading with her dog or just goofin' around.
When you take a dab, you’ll notice a dark, sticky residue left over in your dab rig. This substance is called reclaim, and yes, you can dab reclaim. But what is cannabis reclaim? And is it safe to dab? What is Reclaim? Can You Dab Reclaim? How to Collect Reclaim from a Dab Rig Health…
With its own set of terms and practices distinct from other forms of cannabis, the intricate world of cannabis concentrates—sometimes called extracts—can be overwhelming. A concentrate is a highly potent concentrated cannabis product made by extracting terpenes and cannabinoids (think THC) from cannabis plant material. While there are multiple ways to consume concentrates, the most…
So you love smoking cannabis, but you’re tired of the same ole rolling papers. Perhaps you feel like you’ve graduated from dumping out the tobacco and shoving weed into an empty cigarette. Maybe you’ve recently learned about the potential dangers and risks associated with tobacco blunt wraps and want a healthier option. Let’s explore some…
When you decide that you are going to dabble in cannabis cultivation, you have many different decisions to make. You’ll have to decide whether you’re growing indoors or outdoors, as well as in soil, or the route of hydroponics. You’ll also have to pick what type of planters to use, what grow medium to use,…
Professional wrestling legend Terry Gene Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, recently mentioned how CBD has helped him deal with addiction. In an interview with Muscle & Health magazine, he revealed that he has swapped opioids and alcohol for CBD. Worthy of note is that the therapeutic value of CBD is being studied for substance…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.