New York passes bill allowing hemp growers to cultivate cannabis for adult use

The New York State Legislature has approved a bill that will allow state-licensed hemp growers to obtain advance conditional licenses to grow cannabis as part of on the future cannabis legalization program for adults.

Farmers will be eligible for this program if they already have a valid permit to grow industrial hemp and if they have already grown or harvested hemp for at least two years.

Democratic Representative Carrie Woerner said the bill will allow growers to start planting «this year and grow their crops over the summer so they’ll be ready for distribution to retail outlets and for sale in the spring.».

Final Licenses for 2023

Tremaine Wright, who heads the Cannabis Control Board from New York, indicated that the issuance of licenses would likely begin in the spring of 2023.

However, Chris Alexander, executive director of the’Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) stated last week that the authorities could publish regulations for the sector in May of this year, which would allow sales to begin in the spring of 2023.

Holders of grower and processor licenses would be required to participate in a mentoring program in terms of social equity and an environmental sustainability program. The bill also includes a provision allowing cannabis farmworkers to unionize.

In a statement, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said the bill will help the state «meet the demand in the adult-use cannabis market once retail dispensaries open their doors.».

«With the passage of this bill, we have the opportunity to ensure a responsible launch of the adult-use cannabis industry by granting temporary conditional grower and processor licenses to New York’s existing hemp producers,» she said.

The measure would authorize the cultivation of cannabis outdoors or in greenhouses equipped with up to 20 grow lights. It will then be submitted to Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul for final approval.