The briefing book for the executive budget touts how Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has \u201cprioritized getting New York\u2019s cannabis industry up and running\u201d since marijuana was legalized under her predecessor last year. That includes appointing key regulators<\/a> who\u2019ve been \u201ccreating and implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework.\u201d<\/p>\n Hochul\u2019s proposal to create a $200 million private-public fund<\/a> to support equity applicants seeking to enter the industry is also mentioned in the book.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have the means to immediately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as embrace this once-in-a-generation opportunity for the future with a historic level of funding that is both socially responsible and fiscally prudent,\u201d the governor said<\/a> of her overall budget plan on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The Office of Cannabis Management is responsible for \u201cdeveloping a comprehensive regulatory structure to monitor and control the cultivation, processing, manufacturing, distribution, transportation, and sale of cannabis in New York State,\u201d the governor\u2019s new proposal says. The budget calls for $46 million in funding to support those efforts.<\/p>\n Advocates and stakeholders are eager to see the implementation of legal marijuana sales in the state. A deadline for local municipalities to opt out of allowing cannabis retailers and social consumption facilities to operate in their area recently passed, and hundreds of cities, towns and villages across the state<\/a> have agreed to allow them.<\/p>\n New York also has a goal of issuing at least 50 percent of cannabis business licenses to social equity applicants, including people from communities disproportionately impacted by criminalization, distressed farmers and women- and veterans-owned companies.<\/p>\n Because the implementation process to allow retailers has been drawn out, one GOP senator said he wanted to give local jurisdictions another year to decide whether they will opt out of allowing marijuana businesses<\/a> to operate in their area\u2014a proposal that advocates said was unnecessary and would create undue complications for the industry. It did not advance in the legislature.<\/p>\n As the state prepares to launch the first retail marijuana shops, the law signed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) already permits adults 21 and older to possess and publicly consume cannabis<\/a>. And other lawmakers are working to build upon the legalization policy.<\/p>\n For example, a New York senator filed a bill last month to make it so that gay, lesbian and bisexual people can qualify as social equity applicants<\/a> under the state\u2019s marijuana law.<\/p>\n Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D) introduced the legislation, shortly after filing a separate bill to include transgender and non-binary people<\/a> in the cannabis social equity program. He\u2019s also behind other recent marijuana reform proposals related to cannabis business tax benefits and licensing.<\/p>\n \u2014 In July, Cooney filed a bill to create a provisional marijuana licensing category<\/a> so that farmers could begin cultivating and selling cannabis ahead of the formal rollout of the adult-use program.<\/p>\n Cooney is also sponsoring a newly filed bill to allow licensed cannabis companies to deduct certain business expenses<\/a> on their state tax returns.<\/p>\n Hochul, who replaced Cuomo after he resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, has repeatedly emphasized her interest in efficiently implementing the legalization law<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, New York\u2019s Cannabis Control Board (CCB) held its first meeting in October<\/a>, a key step toward implementing the state\u2019s adult-use marijuana program.<\/p>\n Members of the board, who were appointed by the governor and legislative leaders<\/a>, announced that medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed to sell flower cannabis products to qualified patients. The $50 registration fee for patients and caregivers was also permanently waived.<\/p>\n In November, regulators also approved rules for the state\u2019s cannabinoid hemp program<\/a>, notably clarifying that flower from the crop can be sold but delta-8 THC products are currently prohibited from being marketed.<\/p>\n The state Department of Labor separately announced in recent guidance that New York employers are no longer allowed to drug test most workers for marijuana<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a New York lawmaker introduced a bill in June that would require the state to establish an institute to research the therapeutic potential of psychedelics<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another state legislator filed legislation last month to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for medical purposes<\/a> and establish facilities where the psychedelic could be grown and administered to patients.<\/p>\n Bipartisan Pennsylvania Senators To File Marijuana Banking Protection Bill As Congressional Reform Stalls<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Photo courtesy of WeedPornDaily<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 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>![](\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/us-senate-candidate-smokes-marijuana-blunt-in-campaign-ad-about-harms-of-criminalization-marijuana-moment.jpg\")
<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker<\/a> and become a supporter on Patreon<\/a> to get access.
\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
![](\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/us-senate-candidate-smokes-marijuana-blunt-in-campaign-ad-about-harms-of-criminalization-marijuana-moment.png\")
<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"