New York regulators have given the green light to preliminary regulations permitting the cultivation of recreational marijuana at home and have endorsed more than 100 new licenses for cannabis-related businesses, aiming to overcome the challenges faced by the legal market in the current year.
Facing criticism from both the governor and state legislators regarding the prolonged licensing procedure, the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) made several resolutions on Friday to expand marijuana operations and outline proposed rules for home cultivation by adult consumers.
The regulators granted approval for over 100 licenses covering various sectors, including retailers, micro-businesses, cultivators, processors, and distributors. Additionally, two cannabis research licenses were authorized through a separate resolution. These were the first non-conditional licenses, indicating that applicants did not need to meet specific eligibility criteria under the state’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries (CAURD) program, which prioritized individuals with justice involvement.
Chair of CCB, Tremaine Wright, remarked at the meeting, “This moment has been a long time in the making, and we assure you it only represents the beginning.” Acknowledging the challenging start to 2024 for the cannabis industry in New York State, Wright stated that the board would continue approving additional licenses in future meetings.
Chris Alexander, Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), called the approval of non-conditional licenses “another major milestone for the program.”
Regarding home cultivation regulations, developed by OCM and presented to CCB for consideration, the approved resolution initiates a 60-day public comment period before finalizing the rules. As presently drafted, the regulations allow adults to cultivate up to six plants for personal use, with a maximum of three mature plants at any given time. A residence with multiple adults can have a maximum of 12 plants, and individuals can possess up to five pounds of marijuana derived from these plants.
The regulations also include guidelines for storing the plants and addressing any odors that may become a nuisance to neighbors.
An earlier meeting scheduled to approve home cultivation regulations and a smaller number of adult-use licenses was canceled last month, partially due to intervention from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office. The governor expressed frustration over the delay in implementation, stating that she was considering potential leadership changes within the state’s marijuana regulatory apparatus.
On Friday, Governor Hochul celebrated the issuance of non-conditional licenses, emphasizing the growing cannabis industry’s potential to boost local economies across the state. She stated that the approval of over 100 licenses was a positive step, providing individuals with opportunities to contribute to the economic development of their local communities.
