This post was originally published on this site.
To the Editor:
Regarding your editorial (”Promised overhaul of NY cannabis regulator can’t come soon enough,” May 19, 2024) on the Office of Cannabis Management’s complete and utter dumpster fire of a rollout of regulations and implementation of legal cannabis retail outlets, I couldn’t agree more with what was stated.
The Office of Cannabis (Mis)management couldn’t have been led by any more incompetent people if you tried. They could have easily adopted the same rules and regulations from the medical marijuana program and created a way for those who chose to switch over to a general retail outlet, rather than participate in the medical aspect. Instead, we get this current mess. It’s pretty sad when it is easier to apply for a liquor license to open a bar or retail store than it is for a dispensary.
I get that we have an issue in New York state with all of these gray market stores selling unregulated products that contain cannabis. But at the same time, the state created this mess. Everyone who wanted to open a dispensary should have been given the opportunity from the get-go. Farmer’s markets should’ve been given the green light (no pun intended) to sell essentially a farm product from the get-go. It’s no different than a microbrewery selling their products.
The OCM needs to be run by those who actually use the products they are regulating, as those individuals know what they are doing. Hopefully this dumpster fire is put out soon.
Jason Brodfuehrer
Rome