New York Regulators Postpone Meeting on New Adult-Use Retail Licenses, Home Grow Rules

Industry stakeholders eagerly awaiting the New York Cannabis Control Board’s (CCB) Jan. 24 meeting, when regulators were set to approve new adult-use retail licenses and home grow rules, were disappointed when the meeting was abruptly postponed this week.

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced Jan. 23 that Wednesday’s meeting would be delayed to provide more time for regulators to finalize the review of license applications being considered for approval.

“While some licenses are ready for approval, there are many more we want to get across the finish line to jumpstart the [New York cannabis] market in 2024,” OCM officials said. “We want to make sure we issue as many licenses as we can, as soon as we can.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and we look forward to reconvening in February to provide updates to the public.”

The OCM announced in early December that six of New York’s 10 medical cannabis operators—called registered organizations (ROs)—had been approved to enter the adult-use market.

Regulators also closed an application window Dec. 18 for new adult-use businesses, including not only dispensaries, but also cultivators, processors and distributors.

The OCM received 6,934 total applications, Cannabis Business Times previously reported, including 538 from processors, 372 from cultivators, 351 from distributors, 1,349 from microbusinesses and 4,324 from retailers. Of the applications received, 3,826, or more than 55%, were submitted by social equity applicants.

The postponement of Wednesday’s meeting also delays the process of regulating home cultivation under New York’s 2021 legalization law; while the state has released a preview of the proposed home grow regulations, the draft rules must undergo formal consideration and approval from regulators before they can take effect, Forbes reported.

The proposed regulations would allow adults 21 and older to grow up to six plants—three mature and three immature—at home for personal use, according to the news outlet. The rules allow for a maximum of 12 plants per household, and adults growing cannabis at home would be authorized to possess up to 5 pounds of trimmed flower, although the legal limit for carrying cannabis is 3 ounces.

If the CCB approves the proposed home grow regulations at an upcoming meeting, it will open a 60-day public comment period before the rules can be officially finalized and adopted, Forbes reported.