{"id":56586,"date":"2022-08-15T08:54:17","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T16:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/08\/15\/new-york-marijuana-regulators-approve-first-processor-licenses-and-cannabis-testing-rules-ahead-of-retail-sales-launch\/"},"modified":"2022-08-15T20:45:46","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T04:45:46","slug":"new-york-marijuana-regulators-approve-first-processor-licenses-and-cannabis-testing-rules-ahead-of-retail-sales-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/08\/15\/new-york-marijuana-regulators-approve-first-processor-licenses-and-cannabis-testing-rules-ahead-of-retail-sales-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Marijuana Regulators Approve First Processor Licenses And Cannabis Testing Rules Ahead Of Retail Sales Launch"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

New York marijuana regulators on Monday approved the first round of cannabis processor licenses, as well as additional cultivators, as the state gets closer to launching adult-use sales.<\/p>\n

Members of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) also gave the green light to proposed laboratory and sampling regulations and approved the hiring of a policy director, John Kagia, who has worked for the marijuana industry analytics firm New Frontier Data.<\/p>\n

\n

BREAKING: @jkagia<\/a> has been approved as our Director of Policy.<\/p>\n

As a leading voice in cannabis, Kagia has created innovative opportunities, mitigated risks, and so much more for consumers. We are thrilled to work alongside him as we build a model cannabis market in New York. pic.twitter.com\/N9h1MhINer<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) August 15, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The board on Monday accepted 15 licenses for existing hemp businesses seeking to process marijuana and extract cannabinoids. This marks the first approvals for that adult-use license type in New York.<\/p>\n

\n

BREAKING: The first 15 adult-use conditional processor licenses have been approved! <\/p>\n

For New Yorkers, this means processors can now turn cannabis plants grown by NY family farmers into products like edibles, vape carts, and oils. Excitement is an understatement!<\/p>\n

\u2014 NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) August 15, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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CCB also approved emergency regulations for marijuana laboratory testing standards, a move that allows regulators to \u201cimmediately open the application window\u201d for testing facilities, CCB Chair Tremaine Wright said.<\/p>\n

Medical cannabis testing facilities will automatically be able to start analyzing marijuana for adult-use sales under the rules. The regulations further require the establishment of a \u201cstate reference laboratory to test when needed for quality assurance matters and to assist with laboratory method development.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

View the approved regulations here: https:\/\/t.co\/XB3Ukb6iaI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) August 15, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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These are the latest steps that regulators have taken as New York prepares to open the first recreational shops. People who were directly impacted by the drug war will get initial retail licensing priority, and CCB said last week that applications for those conditional licenses will be accepted starting on August 25<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In order to qualify for a conditional adult-use marijuana retail license, applicants must have faced a conviction for a cannabis-related offense prior to the enactment of legalization in the state, or have a direct relative with such a conviction, and they must also have experience operating a qualifying business.<\/p>\n

The definition of a qualifying \u201cjustice-involved\u201d individual was also expanded to include people who were arrested for marijuana but convicted for a lesser offense, which advocates view as a positive step that will broader the applicant pool.<\/p>\n

The application will be available online at the New York State Business Express site. Prospective applicants are being encouraged to begin compiling the required\u00a0documents\u00a0before the portal opens this month. The application period for this license type will be open for just a month, closing on September 26.<\/p>\n

CCB has also been approving numerous conditional cultivator applications, which are being granted to existing hemp businesses in the state. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill to create the conditional cultivation licenses<\/a>\u00a0in February.<\/p>\n

On Monday, regulators approved<\/a> 19 more cultivator licenses, for a total of 242.<\/p>\n

\n

NEW: An additional 19 adult-use cannabis cultivation licenses have been approved! <\/p>\n

242 New York farms are now licensed to grow adult-use cannabis in the Empire State \"🗽\"\"🍃\".
\u2026#NewYorkMade<\/a> #CannabisCommunity<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) August 15, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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With respect to retailers, Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Executive Director Chris Alexander said last month that the OCM diligently reviewed and responded to public comments on the proposed rules for conditional retailers, but there\u2019s still been some frustration among stakeholders who feel that the input was not thoughtfully incorporated.<\/p>\n

For what it\u2019s worth, a\u00a0recent poll found that\u00a0most New Yorkers voters are against that proposal<\/a>\u00a0to prioritize retail licenses for justice-involved people.<\/p>\n

Separately, OCM also recently publicized dozens of cease and desist letters that they have sent to businesses accused of illegally selling marijuana as the state prepares to launch its adult-use market.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s been skepticism about the accuracy of the office\u2019s enforcement targets. Some businesses that were named as operating illicit marijuana shops say they never received the notice; others, including\u00a0one<\/a>\u00a0event and catering business, say that were wrongfully targeted, denying that they\u2019ve been involved in cannabis sales.<\/p>\n

As it stands, adults 21 and older can\u00a0possess and publicly consume cannabis<\/a>, as well as gift marijuana to other adults as long as they aren\u2019t being compensated.<\/p>\n

In June, CCB also\u00a0approved a series of proposed rules<\/a>\u00a0for marijuana packaging, labeling, advertising and testing requirements.<\/p>\n

During April\u2019s CCB meeting, regulators also approved revised regulations to allow medical marijuana patients to grow their own plants for personal use following a public comment period on initial rules that were proposed last year.<\/p>\n

In general, the rule would allow registered patients and caregivers to grow up to six plants, only three of which could be mature. They could possess up to five pounds of cannabis derived from those plants, which is consistent with the state\u2019s adult-use legalization law.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, New York lawmakers recently sent a budget proposal to the governor\u2019s desk that includes provisions to\u00a0let marijuana businesses take state tax deductions<\/a>\u00a0that are available to other industries despite an ongoing federal ban on cannabis. That was signed into law.<\/p>\n

Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D)\u00a0filed a standalone bill in December<\/a>\u00a0seeking a similar carve-out for the state\u2019s burgeoning cannabis market. Assemblymember Donna Lupardo (D) followed suit in her chamber. Cooney also filed a bill in May to allow regulators to\u00a0disclose certain information about cannabis licensees<\/a>\u00a0to financial institutions to promote marijuana banking.<\/p>\n

Hochul has repeatedly emphasized her interest in\u00a0efficiently implementing the legalization law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The governor released a State of the State book in January that called for\u00a0the creation of a $200 million public-private fund<\/a>\u00a0to specifically help promote social equity in the state\u2019s burgeoning marijuana market.<\/p>\n

That proposal was\u00a0also cited in the governor\u2019s executive budget<\/a>, which was released in January. The budget also estimated that New York stands to generate more than $1.25 billion in marijuana tax revenue over the next six years.<\/p>\n

Hochul said that while cannabis business licenses have yet to be approved since legalization was signed into law last year, the market stands to generate billions of dollars, and it\u2019s important to \u201ccreate opportunities for all New Yorkers, particularly those from historically marginalized communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

OCM has also been putting out PSAs to\u00a0promote public education about the marijuana policy change<\/a>, including a first-of-its-kind taxpayer-funded marijuana ad that aired in most of New York during an NBA Finals game last month. The PSA boldly addressed the racially discriminatory harms of cannabis criminalization and highlighted steps that state regulators are taking to right the wrongs of prohibition.<\/p>\n

CCB also wants the opportunity to showcase its marijuana PSA campaign on the social media app TikTok, but it was told by the company previously that it could not use the platform because of its existing ban on the use of the word \u201ccannabis.\u201d The department\u00a0recently sent a letter to TikTok<\/a>, requesting a policy change for government marijuana-related ads that concern public education.<\/p>\n

Here are some other ways that New York lawmakers and regulators are working to promote drug policy reform as the state prepares to implement retail marijuana sales:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last month, Hochul announced that the state had awarded $5 million in funding to community colleges to support the development and improvement of courses and programs specifically meant to\u00a0help people secure jobs in the marijuana industry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The New York Senate approved a bill in June that would require public health insurance programs\u00a0to cover medical marijuana expenses<\/a>\u00a0and clarify that private insurers are allowed to do the same.<\/p>\n

Both chambers of the state legislature have passed a measure to\u00a0encourage businesses to use hemp materials<\/a>\u00a0for packaging, construction and other industrial purposes.<\/p>\n

\u2014
\nMarijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nLearn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\n\u2014<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

The state Department of Labor separately announced in recent guidance that New York employers are no longer allowed to\u00a0drug test most workers for marijuana<\/a>. Even prior to the enactment of legalization, New York City officials had established a\u00a0local ban on pre-employment drug testing<\/a>\u00a0for cannabis.<\/p>\n

A recent legal directive from the New York City Law Department (NYCLD) has put police and firefighter drug testing policy in the spotlight\u00a0after a document that was leaked<\/a>\u00a0from the New York Police Department (NYPD) signaled that officers would no longer be subject to pre-employment, random or scheduled screening for cannabis because of the legal analysis.<\/p>\n

A firefighters union\u00a0claimed credit for the new directive<\/a>, saying that it was responsive to inquires that it made to the city.<\/p>\n

Separately, the mayor of New York City says he\u2019s looking into the idea of authorizing marijuana to be grown in greenhouses\u00a0on the rooftops of public housing buildings<\/a>\u2014an ambitious proposal that\u2019s unlikely to sit well with the federal government, which provides funding to support the NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA).<\/p>\n

A New York senator filed a bill in May that would legalize what\u00a0would essentially be licensed community marijuana gardens<\/a>\u00a0for people who aren\u2019t able to cultivate cannabis at their own homes.<\/p>\n

Also that month, a New York Assembly committee advanced a bill to establish a\u00a0statewide safe consumption site program<\/a>, allowing regulators to authorize facilities where people could use currently illicit drugs in a medically supervised environment.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a New York lawmaker introduced a bill last year that would require the state to establish an institute to\u00a0research the therapeutic potential of psychedelics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another state legislator filed legislation in December to\u00a0legalize psilocybin mushrooms for medical purposes<\/a>\u00a0and establish facilities where the psychedelic could be grown and administered to patients.<\/p>\n

\n

Majority Of Texas Voters Support Marijuana Legalization, Poll Finds<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Photo courtesy of Martin Alonso<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post New York Marijuana Regulators Approve First Processor Licenses And Cannabis Testing Rules Ahead Of Retail Sales Launch<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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