Oct 02, 2023, 10:06pmUpdated 4h ago
The state of New York’s tumultuous rollout of recreational cannabis dispensary licenses has caught the attention of the state Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee.
The committee now wants to find out why the Office of Cannabis Management and its board – the Cannabis Control Board – have not been able to fully open up the market by now.
“They can’t stick it out another week, let alone another year,” said Simon Kennedy, an expert grower who’s handling two one-acre crops for two licensed cannabis farmers.
Kennedy agrees an independent inquiry may be necessary, but does not directly blame the OCM for the current state of the state’s cannabis industry.
Kennedy said he and other growers are struggling because of a court injunction that has frozen the industry, leaving just 23 dispensaries to sell to; and a growing illegal market.
“I think about 30% of the farmers didn’t grow this year,” he said, “and next year none of them will grow if this continues. The industry is in a mess.”
“This is going to be a many-hours-long hearing,” investigation committee chairman state Sen. James Skoufis said Monday morning in a Zoom interview.
Skoufis said he wants