Recreational marijuana is legal in New York, but when will dispensaries begin popping up? More importantly, when will the state’s communities begin seeing the economic benefit of pot sales? Those two questions have been frequently asked since the law was signed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo after passing state Assembly and Senate.
The state created a department to oversee the program. It’s called the Cannabis Control Board. Not a lot is known about the entity, but it will oversee rollout of recreational marijuana in New York. They will oversee creation of regulations, granting licenses to dealers, and maintaining them.
Farmers in Upstate New York are hopeful that the recreational marijuana program will allow cannabis plants to be grown outdoors. Currently, the state’s medical marijuana program requires that plants be grown in a green house.
None of the appointments to the advisory board have been made yet. Meanwhile, a representative for Governor Kathy Hochul said it’s a priority.
“Nominating and confirming individuals with diverse experiences and subject-matter expertise, who are representative of communities from across the state, to the Cannabis Control Board is a priority for Governor Hochul,” Jordan Bennett, Hochul’s spokesperson, wrote. “We look forward to working with the Legislature to keep this process moving forward.”
Some expect that the whole thing should be moving by 2022.
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