New York Becomes 16th State to Legalize Cannabis
On March 31, 2021, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) into law, making New York the 16th state to legalize cannabis. The law includes:
- Automatic expungement of past cannabis convictions.
- Community reinvestment programs to support impacted communities.
- A regulated market overseen by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).
Since legalization, adults 21+ can possess up to three ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrate. Home cultivation will be fully allowed by mid-2024.
Cannabis Licensing Faces Delays
As of March 2023, only four adult-use dispensaries are operating in New York. The state aimed for 50% of licenses to go to social equity applicants, including minority- and women-owned businesses, disabled veterans, and distressed farmers.
However, delays from litigation, funding shortages, and regulatory issues have slowed progress. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is working to increase the number of licenses issued in 2023.
Gov. Hochul Signs Bill to Boost Cannabis Cultivation
On February 22, 2022, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed S.08084, allowing New York hemp farmers to apply for conditional cannabis cultivation licenses.
- Farmers licensed before December 31, 2021, could cultivate up to 43,500 sq. ft. outdoors or 25,000 sq. ft. in greenhouses.
- Businesses had to meet equity and sustainability benchmarks to continue operations after June 2023.
Due to slow retail licensing, cannabis farmers harvested hundreds of thousands of pounds with no legal market to sell it in.
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