The chair of the New York Senate Cannabis Committee says that his committee will hold its public hearing on marijuana legalization next month in order to identify legislative solutions for the ongoing problems with implementation. This includes bringing together regulators, legislators, stakeholders, and advocates to have a “fair” and productive policy discussion.
Jeremy Cooney, a Democratic Senator who was nominated to lead the Senate’s first cannabis panel this year, announced Thursday the hearing on October 30 during a news conference. The purpose of the October 30 hearing, he said, is to “finally tackle the many challenges we’ve seen with the launch of adult-use marijuana here in New York.”
In recent months, frustrations about New York’s marijuana program have increased as regulators worked to create a market which prioritizes social justice, by awarding conditional licences to those who have been most affected by prohibition. In the meantime, illicit cannabis businesses proliferated. While lawsuits temporarily stopped licensing, the issue has become more complicated.
Cooney said that it was “no secret” that the path of adult-use marijuana in the state had been met with many challenges. He added that “legislative oversight is one of the most important tasks that we as state legislators have.”
Thankful for the support from Majority Leader @AndreaSCousins as well as the partnership between cmte chair @SenatorHinchey @LizKrueger, and @jamesskoufis.
— Senator Jeremy Cooney 9/7/2023
He said: “We must work together with our Governor and state agencies to achieve our goals as a collective.” “New Yorkers deserve transparency in their government’s actions.”
The senator stated that the hearing that will take place next month in front of the 12-member Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis, is intended to serve as a “fact-finding process”. However, he said Marijuana Moment “we hope that we can identify specific public policies needs [and] legislative requirements during the hearing process.” It’s crucial that we start this process now, in the fall, before Albany.
He said, “I hope that by the time the hearing in Albany takes place, we’ll see a way forward for non-conditional licences applications”, for those who don’t qualify as social equity owners.
Cooney stated, “It is very important that we get moving on this issue–and that we are able to move legislation forward whether it comes from my office or that of one of my colleagues.” Cooney said, “This will be part this process and we will make recommendations for the policy report after the hearing.”
The list of witnesses for the hearing has not yet been released, but the chairperson said he does not want only government officials and legislators in the room. The hearing is intended to include the entire cannabis community, including those who have faced difficulties entering the market. Cooney said, however, that the hearing will not be “used as an opportunity to air grievances, or attack individuals or organizations.”
The Senate Agriculture, Finance, and Investigations & Government Operations Committees will be present at the hearing.
Cooney stated, “I am aware that the current market is confusing, frustrating and fast-moving for potential consumers as well as those who have invested in it.” Remember that about a year has passed since the first [conditional adult use retail dispensary] was launched in New York. And here we are, all these months after its launch, still not satisfied with its results.
The senator stated, “I understand the concerns of these voices, and I know that they are accountable to their communities. We want to give them the opportunity to tell their stories, and hopefully, more importantly, to learn from their experience.” “But as a state Senate and as a legislative body, we must take action.”
Senate Majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, (D), said on Thursday, that the upcoming Senate Subcommittee on Cannabis Hearing, conducted in cooperation with the Finance, Agriculture, IGO Committees, “is another step in our commitment towards a responsible, equitable, retail cannabis market in New York State.”
Cannabis Association of New York stated that “sunlight disinfects best and more transparency helps us all to turn New York legal marijuana around before it is too late.”
The association stated that “this hearing will give us the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and explore the past.” The association said that understanding the past was only part of the picture. We need to know what the future holds.
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As the cannabis roll-out continues, regulators are taking steps to fill in supply and demand gaps. They have authorized cannabis farmers markets where retail licencees work with growers to offer products at open market events.
In July, New York City officials also announced that they are looking for lenders to support an equity fund which will encourage participation in the marijuana industry by those who have been disproportionately affected by criminalization.
Gov. Gov.
launched a public awareness campaign in April to encourage adults to purchase marijuana from licensed stores to ensure the products are safe, and to use revenue to further equity and reinvestment objectives.
In March, officials announced that they will double the number of adult-use cannabis licenses that are approved from 150 to 300. This was after certain applicants indicated that they could open their storefronts more quickly without any additional assistance through a program that is designed to assist eligible entities in creating physical locations.
As the state struggles with the regulation of the adult-use marijuana market, the governor recently introduced legislation that would increase enforcement authority in order to crackdown on illegal marijuana retailers.
In June, the New York Senate approved a bill that would provide relief from taxation to New York City cannabis businesses who are currently prevented from making federal deductions due to an Internal Revenue Service code (IRS), known as 280E.
Although Hochul signed last year a budget bill that included provisions that allow state-level tax deductions for cannabis businesses — a partial remedy to an ongoing federal issue — New York City’s own tax laws were not affected by this change.
Illinois Concert this Weekend Will Be State’s First To Allow Marijuana Consumption On-Site HTML_
The original post New York Senate Marijuana committee Schedules hearing to Address Challenges for Legalization Rollout was first published on Marijuana Moment.
