New York Cannabis Control Board Meeting Focused on Seeding Opportunity Initiative

Last week, the New York Cannabis Control Board (the Board) held a short public meeting that focused on its three-prong “Seeding Opportunity Initiative.”

1. Conditional Adult Use Cultivator Licenses

To date, the Board has received over 200 conditional adult-use cultivator applicants and has approved 146 conditional cultivator licenses. The conditional cultivator application window is open until June 30, 2022. More information (including eligibility requirements) is available here and on the Office of Cannabis Management’s Licensing website.

2. Conditional Adult Use Dispensary License

Proposed conditional adult-use retail dispensary regulations are open for public comment until May 31, 2022 (you can submit comments via email: regulations@ocm.ny.gov). The Board expects to start accepting applications for this type of conditional license this summer and hopes to have conditional retail dispensaries open by the end of the year.

3. Social Equity Cannabis Investment Program

Currently there are two Request for Proposals (RFPs) out, for:

a.) A fund manager for the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Program (responses due June 8)

b.) A ”design-build” entity to provide design, construction, and other services needed to renovate spaces for Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary Licensees.

It is not clear from the proposed regulations or last week's meeting whether Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary License applicants will be required to use one of the renovated spaces as part of the New York Cannabis Control Board’s “Seeding Opportunity Initiative” or will be free to choose their own conditional retail dispensary locations. Hopefully, the final regulations, or Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary FAQ or application instructions will shed some light on this topic.

At a high level, last week's meeting highlighted solid progress from the Board, but there are still many unknowns, like when the Board will release non-conditional adult use license regulations and begin accepting applications for the other types of non-conditional licenses. So, in the spirit of eagerly waiting for more details, here’s Tom Petty and Eddie Vedder giving it to you straight—the waiting is the hardest part . . .

You can contact Ramsey Chamie at info@gl-lg.com or 503-488-5424.