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Happy Saturday! Stay dry this evening and catch up on our eventful coverage of this past week in legal weed.
We’re gearing up for our industry meetup and networking event happening August 15 from 6-9 p.m. in Midtown Manhattan at Madam Mikette’s.
Panel speakers will focus on Native American nations in the cannabis community. General admission includes all-access to the speakers and networking, light appetizers, and two complimentary beverages. Click here for more information on sponsors and vendors.
Given the industry-shifting event that unfolded this week involving a lawsuit between service-disabled veterans and the Office of Cannabis Management, attendees will have much to discuss.
A New York State Supreme Court judge has temporarily barred state regulators from issuing conditional cannabis retail licenses. Additionally, CAURD licensees that haven’t yet opened for business are barred from opening until at least two more weeks.
The complaint, which plaintiffs filed last week, argues that the OCM and Cannabis Control Board improperly limited eligibility for the CAURD program and violated the U.S. Dormant Commerce Clause. They also allege the CCB violated the MRTA requirement to open the window for all adult-use retail dispensary applications “at the same time.”
We published an update yesterday. Judge Kevin Bryant ruled the temporary injunction would remain in place at least until another hearing in two weeks.
Following the hearing, Colin Decker wrote a no-holds-barred guest column for NY Cannabis Insider that calls on all industry stakeholders to demand accountability from the OCM and Gov. Kathy Hochul:
“The governor needs to step in immediately and end all of this once and for all, to do what we all have been thinking for so long – wipe the slate clean and get those who have actual experience and knowledge into positions of influence and decision-making to create a truly equitable industry.”
For veterans in the cannabis industry — Korey Rowe, Mark Byassee and Osbert Orduña — the chaos that’s enveloped the state is no big surprise. They commented on the situation and said they would’ve joined plaintiffs if they didn’t already have stores opening.
This isn’t the first time people have questioned the legality of the OCM’s rollout. Reporter Sean Teehan compiled a list of all active and inactive lawsuits plaintiffs have filed against state cannabis regulators since last year.
Continuing on the lawsuit, Cornell University held its annual “hemp field day” on Thursday where attendees and panelists discussed equity and farmers’ struggles, learned about plant biochemistry and beneficial fungi, and attended workshops in the field focused on weed and pest management.
NY Cannabis Insider Editor and Publisher Brad Racino moderated a panel discussion that focused on the current plight of New York’s cannabis cultivators, beginning with a question about the CAURD program’s restraining order.
More than any other state, New York emphasizes social equity in its cannabis legalization policy. This emphasis so far has been placed on cannabis ownership. But, now that licensed stores are opening, equity efforts are beginning for the larger side of the industry: cannabis employment.
A new guest column states the union that represents all ten of New York’s medical retailers plans to begin organizing workers of adult-use businesses this fall.
The New York Cannabis Vape Standards Coalition, a group of stakeholders committed to advocating for quality standards, submitted a guest column about the OCM’s recent prohibition of popular vape products and flavors.
The War on Drugs continues — Attorney Paula Collins detailed her recent encounter representing a cannabis worker at a shop that was raided by the Dept. of Taxation and Finance in a new guest column.
New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda has previously said that current state surveys had identified “about 1400 locations’’ referred to as “unlicensed smoke shops.”
The media has since run rampant with the figure, but Sheriff Miranda explained in a new Q&A that the number was not exclusive to THC sales.
A new “People to know” entry features Jeremy Rivera, a former gang member who grew up in the drug-impoverished, pre-gentrification neighborhood of Bushwick. Now, he’s the CEO of Terp Bros Cannabis dispensary, a NYS licensed adult-use cannabis retailer set to open in Astoria, Queens.
Also, our “Women in cannabis” series continues with Amy Chin, who launched her career in cannabis because the plant helped manage her anxiety and postpartum depression. Now, she’s a cannabis coach and the founder of Calm Better Days, an online CBD store.
Lastly, Jeffrey Hoffman answered questions about consumption lounges, bills for banning smoking cannabis in public and why MasterCard has told the cannabis industry to quit using their debit cards in his latest “Ask Me Anything” segment.
That’s all for now. Despite the recent restraints, have a great weekend!