The application window for cannabis business licenses in New York was extended.
Original deadlines for New York’s cannabis business license application window have been extended. The extension grants hundreds of cannabis businesses an extra two weeks to apply for their licenses (1).
The option to extend the deadline came about in a Cannabis Control Board meeting that took place on October 17, 2023. Non-provisional retail and microbusinesses now have until Friday, November 17, 2023, to file for a license. All other licenses such as those for cultivation and processing, have received an extension until Monday, December 18, 2023, for their application. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced these new deadlines on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter (1,2).
Although this extension provides relief to businesses needing more time, it does pose other challenges. With a strong need for cannabis banking, many operators are stretched thin on cash and the extension brings financial obstacles to the table, according to Lauren Rudick, a cannabis attorney (1).
“More time will hopefully inspire a diverse slate of applicants and reduce barriers to entry, but for those applicants who are already carrying real estate or otherwise burning cash, further delays are troubling,” the founder of New York-based Rudick Law Group told MJBizDaily via email (1).
Social and economic equity (SEE) applicants will receive priority in the licensing process. This includes applicants (1), “from communities disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of past prohibition, minority- and women-owned businesses, distressed farmers, and service-disabled veterans.”
Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) applicants and licensees have been recommended by regulators to submit their applications during this extended timeframe.
New York’s OCM is expected to process up to 1,500 licenses for microbusinesses, retail, processing, and cultivation operators (1). Between 500 to 1,000 licenses, which is the majority, have been designated for cannabis retailers. In August, a New York judge placed a freeze on all business applications and approvals (1,3) preventing new adult-use stores to open, which has held up CAURD holders and applicants.
To help businesses apply for CAURD licenses, the state’s OCM launched a statewide outreach initiative where they will visit locations such as Brooklyn, Harlem, and Albany (1).
References
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.