A federal judge has temporarily blocked New York’s Office of Cannabis Management from issuing conditional retail licenses in the Finger Lakes, according to the Times Union. This means the state can’t issue them in five regions, which also include Central New York, Western New York, Mid-Hudson and Brooklyn. It’s reported this is happening because a company that applied to operate a marijuana store was denied, so that business filed a lawsuit.
Jeremy Jimenez, a co-founder of Honest Pharm Co., joined Finger Lakes Today Friday, the morning after he heard about the ruling.
“It’s not looking good for us or other farmers that are looking to move product,” Jimenez said. “We were thinking the dispensaries were going to be opened up in January. This could move the timeline from six months to a year. So what are we to do with the product we just grew?”
He said his company could vacuum seal the product and package it. But he said that means they’ll eventually have to send it out for processing, which isn’t as valuable. He said not knowing how long New York State will be blocked from handing out licenses is troubling.
More: Cannabis-growing facility testing plants for upcoming sale in Finger Lakes (video)
“It definitely puts a financial burden on us and other farms that are involved with this, looking forward to moving their product,” Jimenez said. “Now we’re thinking ok we have to change gears. We don’t know how long this is going to take. Is New York going to help us out in some way? I don’t think New York State knows what it looks like right now. We’re just trying to keep up with it.”
Jimenez said anything grown in New York has to stay in New York, so shipping product outside of the state isn’t an option.
More: Hundreds of people hope to make an impression at a cannabis job fair (video)
Rebecca is a veteran multimedia journalist serving as one of our core reporters in the Finger Lakes region. She is responsible for telling stories that matter to every day Upstate New Yorkers. Have a question or lead? Send it to [email protected].