State Senator Gustavo Rivera - New York’s Cannabis Leadership Confirmed

 

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Dear Community Member, Last week, New York took a critical step towards establishing a legal cannabis market in our state. I was proud to vote in favor of Governor Kathy Hochul’s nominations for the Cannabis Control Board Chair and Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Executive Director. The Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA), which we passed earlier this year, created the Cannabis Control Board and the OCM to oversee New York’s adult-use cannabis program, existing medical cannabis program, and existing cannabinoid hemp program. I want to congratulate our confirmed appointees, former Assemblymember Tremaine Wright, incoming Cannabis Control Board Chair, and Christopher Alexander, incoming Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director. I also want to thank Governor Hochul for recognizing the need to act on these previously delayed gubernatorial nominations after her predecessor neglected them and to our Majority Leader, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, for leading our house to an expeditious confirmation. At my first virtual webinar in my series on Marijuana in New York, we discussed how you can be part of the business opportunities that the new law will create and the need to appoint leadership for the board and OCM to initiate the regulation-making process. Regulations will outline how to apply for licenses to participate in the retail sales and other cannabis-related businesses, set to begin in April 2022. I’ll keep you updated on the regulations and opportunities for public input as we follow developments regarding the cannabis market. When we passed MRTA this spring, we sought to ensure that communities impacted by decades of marijuana criminalization would have opportunities in the legal market. The law immediately decriminalized consumption and possession of marijuana in most places. Make sure you know your rights under these new laws by checking out the virtual webinar I hosted in August featuring legal experts.

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I hope this information is useful to you! My team is available if you need assistance by contacting 718-933-2034 or grivera@nysenate.gov. Sincerely, Gustavo Rivera New York State Senator 33rd District, The Bronx

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