{"id":57215,"date":"2022-09-20T10:00:56","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T18:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/09\/20\/new-york-regulators-vote-to-let-medical-marijuana-patients-grow-their-own-starting-next-month\/"},"modified":"2022-09-21T19:47:16","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T03:47:16","slug":"new-york-regulators-vote-to-let-medical-marijuana-patients-grow-their-own-starting-next-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2022\/09\/20\/new-york-regulators-vote-to-let-medical-marijuana-patients-grow-their-own-starting-next-month\/","title":{"rendered":"New York Regulators Vote To Let Medical Marijuana Patients Grow Their Own Starting Next Month"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

As New York marijuana regulators continue to accept applications for the first adult-use cannabis retailer licenses from people directly impacted by the drug war, officials on Tuesday voted to adopt home grow rules for medical cannabis patients, as well as another round of conditional marijuana processor and cultivator business applications.<\/p>\n

The Cannabis Control Board (CCB) accepted a resolution to have the state adopt rules for medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants for personal use. They also accepted updated hemp cannabinoid regulations and gave the green light to a limited partnership agreement between the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) and Social Equity Impact Ventures to advance industry equity.<\/p>\n

The adoption of the medical cannabis home grow resolution comes about a year after draft regulations were first proposed and several months after the board accepted revised rules following a public comment period. Now CCB has directed the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to formally send the approved regulations to the New York State Department of State.<\/p>\n

\n

BREAKING: Medical Home Grow has been approved! <\/p>\n

\"✅\"Certified medical cannabis patients and designated caregivers in New York will now be able to harvest immature and mature cannabis plants. #NYCCB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) September 20, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

In general, the rule will 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

The home grow rules for medical cannabis patients and caregivers will take effect on October 5. CCB Chair Tremaine Wright said this development marks \u201can exciting milestone for our medical cannabis program.\u201d<\/p>\n

OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander said at the close of the hearing<\/a> that the office has \u201cprioritized patient access in this program,\u201d and \u201cit\u2019s going to continue to be a priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just really excited that we\u2019re able to provide this more affordable option to patients to get access to that medicine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Regulators on Tuesday also approved 10 more cannabis processor licenses, for a total of 25 that have been approved since last month<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

NEWS: New York Cannabis Control Board approves additional 10 adult-use processor licenses. In total, New York has 25 licenses to process cannabis from the #SeedtoWeed<\/a>. #NYCCB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) September 20, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n

They also accepted 19 more cultivator applications<\/a> from existing hemp businesses under a seeding initiative and legislation that was signed by Gov. Kathy Hocul (D)<\/a> in February. There are now more than 250 approved<\/a> cultivators.<\/p>\n

\n

\"👩🏾‍🌾\"Conditional Cultivator License Update: The #NYCCB<\/a> approved an additional 19 licenses, growing the total number of approved Adult-Use Cannabis Conditional Cultivator licenses to 261.<\/p>\n

\u2014 NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) September 20, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Meanwhile, OCM is still taking applications for conditional adult-use retail dispensary (CAURD) licenses<\/a> through September 26. Accepted licenses who have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization will have the first opportunity to serve recreational consumers, as early as this year.<\/p>\n

Last month, OCM unveiled a regional breakdown of the\u00a0maximum 150 CAURD licenses<\/a> that it plans to accept.<\/p>\n

In anticipation of the CAURD license applications opening, the mayor of New York City recently announced the launch of a new program<\/a>\u00a0to promote cannabis industry equity by supporting entrepreneurs most impacted by the drug war.<\/p>\n

The Cannabis NYC initiative aims to initially help would-be dispensary operators complete the licensing application process, but is also promising to provide \u201csupport beyond the license\u201d by connecting \u201caspiring cannabis entrepreneurs to no-cost services, along with technical assistance, to support successful businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

With respect to retailers, OCM\u2019s Alexander said in July that the office 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 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\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

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

\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

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 funding will support the limited partnership agreement between DASNY and Social Equity Impact Ventures that the board approved<\/a> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

That funding proposal was also 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

In July, 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

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, Adams 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 a bill 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

Two Out Of Three Missouri Voters \u2018Certain To Vote Yes\u2019 On Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative, Poll Finds<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis \/\/ Side Pocket Images.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post New York Regulators Vote To Let Medical Marijuana Patients Grow Their Own Starting Next Month<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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