The inhabitants of theUS state of New York come a little closer to the possibility of grow their own cannabis after the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) of the State approved a draft of the rules for the home cultivation. The promise of a home cultivation had been looming since the state approved the legalization of cannabis for adult use in 2021, but it was waiting for a concrete framework to be released by regulators before being implemented.
Today, a global framework for home cultivationinitially developed by theOffice for Cannabis Management (OCM) and submitted to the examination of CCBhas been approved.
This means that a 60-day public comment period will be launched before the rules are finalized and implemented statewide.
If passed, the proposals would allow anyone over the age of 21 to grow up to six cannabis plantsincluding three mature plants and three immature plants, which must be in a secure place and not exposed to public view.
People will only be allowed to farm in one location and can own up to five pounds (2,5 kilos) cut and dried flowers from their own plants.
L’American cannabis seed company Symple Seeds said has Business of Cannabis : “I applaud New York’s decision to authorize home cultivationbecause it takes into account the growing desire toautonomy consumers and opens up exciting prospects both for New Yorker that for thelegal cannabis industry.”
“The home cultivation not only allows amateurs to engage in a practical and educational experiencebut it also supports the principles ofself-sufficiency and of responsible consumption of cannabis. It allows individuals to better understand the planteits different varieties and the cultivation process”
Not everyone is as optimistic about the move, with many suggesting it will exacerbate the growing problems facing thecannabis industryNew York is faced with its illicit market and that makes the management of problematic legal businesses.
More than 100 new licenses
In order to boost local industry, the CCB has considerably expanded the legal cannabis market approving last week 110 new licenses.
While many expected the CCB issues about 400 retail licenses at the initial January meeting, an agenda released before the cancellation showed that in fact only three retailersas well as five farmers, two micro-enterprises et three transformerswere going to receive licenses.
This time, 38 retailers, 24 producers, 27 micro-enterprises, 12 transformers et nine distributors will receive licenses.
However, 13 of these retailers would be located too close to other cannabis stores, meaning they will likely only receive “provisional licenses“, giving them 12 months to find another location.
The move comes as state regulators face growing pressure to speed up the licensing process, which the Governor Kathy Hochul recently described as disastrous.
To date, only 65 retail licenses were granted, while more than 4,300 requests were filed last year, in addition to some 7,000 requests commercial licenses.
These are the first licenses issued outside the CAURD social equity program of the state, which aimed to ensure that those most affected by cannabis prohibition would be the first to benefit from legalization.
Tremaine Wrightpresident of CCB, said at Friday’s meeting: “This moment is long overdue. We assure you that this is only the beginning. The office has worked diligently to prepare as many applications as possible and the board will continue to approve additional licenses at future meetings”
2024-02-20 09:02:17
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