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This guest column is from Steven, a New York legacy cannabis grower looking to become a legal cultivator. NY Cannabis Insider is withholding Steven’s full name because he fears retaliation from the state for sharing his opinion. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of NY Cannabis Insider.
My name is Steven. I’m what’s considered a legacy cultivator in New York State.
I was selected for the Office of Cannabis Management’s Cannabis Compliance Training & Mentorship Program and webinar, completed the program, and now await a certificate of completion.
I see many groups coming forward to speak their minds about the tumultuous rollout and I’d like to share with you how far the damage trickles down past the licensed cultivators and processors – and the mess it’s causing.
During the interview and application process for the CCTM, we were asked to completely unveil our identity and our experience with illegal cultivation. This was very difficult – with no law to protect us from prosecution – but with a promise of becoming ‘the next round of licensed cultivators and processors in the great state of NY,’ it seemed necessary. The program commenced in February and ended in late April this year.
I still have not received a certificate of completion as promised and have had no guidance as to what’s the next step. So, at this point, we are vulnerable – cannabis cultivators are still being prosecuted and I am now on a state list of legacy growers.
With no trust in the OCM, this creates a whirlwind of stressors.
The investment to become a cultivator as laid out by the MRTA is anywhere from $800k – $3 million, according to my best estimate. I am a small-time grower looking to enter the New York market, so I’ve had to seek investments. I have now lost two investors and currently don’t have one because of the dismal outlook created by all of the state groups involved.
Investors do not invest in your word – ‘I grow some really great weed.’ Instead, they need to see the operation, the product, the vision and the potential. With such a big investment and such a high risk, there is so much work to be done prior to even obtaining a license: How are we to make a living cultivating after being exposed; how are we to ready our future site for planting if we can’t even get past the licensing process; how are we able to secure investment with nothing to show?
Small cultivators were supposed to be given a head start against the ROs and other large companies to give us a chance. We can’t even legally grow six plants as proposed for the average New York household at this point. We need to be able to work on genetics for the climate and soil we have, but right now, we cannot. We need to set up logistics and sales relationships with retail outlets, but we cannot.
With the difficult regulations we need accountants and lawyers to help us, but without a clear path in sight or an investment, we have no chance.
I hope the state starts to take everyone in mind and move this forward. We gave our trust to the state in a promise to be legitimate cultivators and we are now more vulnerable than ever, and we gave up our income to go legitimate.
I hope my story can add to the strength of the movement of the New York cannabis industry, and give a voice to the smaller, hopeful NY residents looking to join the legal world of cannabis.