The future of cannabis in New York looks bright with each passing day. Governor Hochul recently signed an amendment allowing the OCM, the office of cannabis management, to give conditional licenses to qualified adult use cultivators and processors.
This legislation is a new cannabis cultivator license that allows hemp farmers to grow cannabis in the 2022 season. The conditional licenses require the farmer to meet specific requirements, including safe, and environmentally friendly cultivation practices.
To qualify and apply for this conditional license, you must be currently licensed with New York state for cultivation or processing of industrial hemp and must have grown and harvested hemp two of the last four years. Finally, you must have been an authorized industrial hemp research partner for the Department of Agriculture and Markets. There is also a hefty, non-refundable $2,000 application and licensing fee.
The new legislation will allow cultivators to grow indoors, outdoors, or both, for up to two years from the date of the license. With adult-use cannabis cultivation, licensees can manufacture and distribute products without an adult use processor or distributor license, until June 1, 2023.
The conditional licensees will have temporary authority to conduct additional activities not included in their licenses. Cultivators are allowed both minimal process and distribution of flowers, while processors can also distribute products as well.
The applicant must abide by all regulations, including those issued after they receive the license. Applicants will be required to participate in a mentoring program, currently in development for individuals interested in joining the cannabis industry through the social equity branch of the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act. They must also actively participate in an environmental sustainability plan, and must commence operations within six months of receiving their license.
Future Outlook on Cannabis Industry in New York
With the recent opening of a new application portal for conditional licenses, New York has taken a significant step forward with the Seeding Opportunity Initiative- the first in the nation. This initiative allows individuals with prior cannabis-related criminal offenses access to adult-use cannabis sales with products grown by hemp farmers in the state.
This legislation is a new cannabis cultivator license that allows hemp farmers to grow cannabis in the 2022 season. The conditional licenses require the farmer to meet specific requirements, including safe, and environmentally friendly cultivation practices.
To qualify and apply for this conditional license, you must be currently licensed with New York state for cultivation or processing of industrial hemp and must have grown and harvested hemp two of the last four years. Finally, you must have been an authorized industrial hemp research partner for the Department of Agriculture and Markets. There is also a hefty, non-refundable $2,000 application and licensing fee.
The new legislation will allow cultivators to grow indoors, outdoors, or both, for up to two years from the date of the license. With adult-use cannabis cultivation, licensees can manufacture and distribute products without an adult use processor or distributor license, until June 1, 2023.
The conditional licensees will have temporary authority to conduct additional activities not included in their licenses. Cultivators are allowed both minimal process and distribution of flowers, while processors can also distribute products as well.
The applicant must abide by all regulations, including those issued after they receive the license. Applicants will be required to participate in a mentoring program, currently in development for individuals interested in joining the cannabis industry through the social equity branch of the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act. They must also actively participate in an environmental sustainability plan, and must commence operations within six months of receiving their license.
Future Outlook on Cannabis Industry in New York
With the recent opening of a new application portal for conditional licenses, New York has taken a significant step forward with the Seeding Opportunity Initiative- the first in the nation. This initiative allows individuals with prior cannabis-related criminal offenses access to adult-use cannabis sales with products grown by hemp farmers in the state.
There are sure to be unknown variables with New York's Conditional Licensing Program, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.
