Senator Hinchey and Assemblywoman Lupardo to push for cannabis farmer relief fund in 2024

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As far as New York State Sen. Michelle Hinchey is concerned, Band-Aid solutions to the plight of the state’s cannabis growers are not the answer.

With New York’s 200 or so cannabis farmers facing severe financial hardship — including some on the verge of bankruptcy – Hinchey (D-Saugerties) told NY Cannabis Insider that, along with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Binghamton), she intends to push for a cannabis relief fund in 2024.

Hinchey, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the “Recompense Fund” would help alleviate losses incurred by farmers who have “been hit twice due to the CBD price collapse, and now a languishing cannabis market rollout.

“Our farmers are sitting on a cannabis oversupply that is losing value by the day …. This situation is undeniably an agricultural emergency, and establishing a cannabis relief fund for our struggling farmers should, without a doubt, be part of the solution,” Hinchey said.

As chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, Lupardo, together with Hinchey, co-sponsored the Cannabis Crop Rescue Act, a bill that’s still awaiting the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Lupardo noted that fact.

“Senator Hinchey and I have offered several solutions that would have assisted this group of farmers with what we have called an ‘agricultural emergency,’” the assemblywoman said.

“To date, none of our legislative initiatives have been approved; including allowing sales to NY’s Tribal Nations which passed both houses of the Legislature, and an earlier version which would have provided loans or grants to have product processed for shelf stability.”

With crop insurance not an option, Lupardo said, “We are left with no choice at the moment but to propose a Recompense Fund as part of the upcoming state budget.”

One of those growers who could certainly use the help is Laura Chesser, owner of Chessworth Farms in Jefferson County.

The botched dispensary rollout has been “significantly devastating,” she said.

“We invested $250,000″ and thus far have gotten back “very little on our investment.”

An Army veteran and mother of three sons, Chesser said, “I took money out of my retirement that I won’t be able to recoup.”

Any money would help, she said.

Tessa Williams, of Empire Farm 1830 in Copake, has gotten a small but welcome boost from participating in the Cannabis Growers Showcases this fall, but said the dire situation faced by farmers is still there.

“Without an emergency state grower bailout like Senator Hinchey supports … family farms will all be out of business by year end.”

“No farmer wants a handout,” she continued. “We are hard working, proud and humble New York entrepreneurs.”

But the revenue isn’t there for the most part, since “we aren’t on shelves because there aren’t enough stores open,” Williams added.

Less than 30 retail dispensaries have opened for the entire state, which is about 200 fewer than originally projected for this point in the rollout by Gov. Hochul last October.

“We can’t compete with MSO brands,” Williams said. “We all bet the farm on weed because we were invited to grow for New York State, and cannabis is more lucrative than carrots. Turns out the ‘too good to be true’ offer from our governor is just that.”

For her part, Gov. Hochul’s office played it close to the vest when contacted on Thursday about a financial bailout for farmers.

“Governor Hochul will review all legislation that passes both houses of the legislature,” said spokesperson Jason Gough.

And as for the Cannabis Crop Rescue Act?

“We are reviewing” it, Gough said in an email.