Legislation to Expedite Cannabis Cultivation Introduced in New York

Cannabis cultivation in New York may be delayed for another growing season, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Senate leaders have yet to establish an Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Cannabis Control Board (CCB).

However, New York state Sen. Jeremy A. Cooney introduced legislation July 20 to establish an "adult-use cultivator provisional license for cannabis growers," essentially speeding up the growing process.

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According to a press release, the bill would permit farmers to plant, harvest and sell cannabis to retailers in New York until the OCM is fully operational. The measure also establishes the provisional infrastructure to allow growers to plant seeds by the 2022 growing season to prevent the economic benefits of cannabis legalization from being delayed another year, Cooney said.

"We passed adult-use recreational marijuana with the promise of investing in communities most negatively impacted by the failed war on drugs," he said. "This bill allows us to start fulfilling that promise by creating a supply chain of products for retailers in this new economy."