Tag Archives: adult use

New York Regulator Sued by Medical Operators

The only guarantees in life are death, taxes, and cannabis lawsuits, and New York is no different. In a cannabis marketplace plagued by fits and starts, the New York Cannabis Control Board (“CCB”) Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) have been joined to another lawsuit alleging that its actions to date are ultra vires.

The Coalition for Access to Regulated and Safe Cannabis, an unincorporated trade association consisting of Registered Organizations (vertically integrated medical cannabis permit holders),… More

Cannabis Health Claims Face Increased Scrutiny As More States Roll Out Recreational Dispensaries

As the number of adult-use states continues to grow—with New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont recently joining the ranks—the scrutiny of cannabis-related advertising has grown with it.  In recent years, state and federal regulators have made it clear that cannabis claims are a priority, especially claims stating or implying a health benefit.  Most of the attention to date has been on CBD products and claims, but as THC products hit the shelves in more and more states,… More

2022 Cannabis Year-in-Review

2022 has been a rollercoaster of a year for the cannabis industry. On the upside, several states have passed legislation to either permit adult use or permit a medical marijuana program. Federally, simple possession cannabis offenses have been pardoned and legislation was passed to allow for research into cannabis. On the downside, the industry has been in a slump as the market gets more crowded and investor streams are drying up.… More

New York Proposes Adult-Use Rules

The New York Cannabis Control Board (“CCB”) held a momentous meeting on November 21, 2022 wherein it continued to issue more conditional cultivation, processing, and dispensing licenses, but, perhaps more importantly, proposed for issuance the first set of adult-use cannabis regulations that will govern all of the non-conditional licenses issued to date.

New York, both through the CCB and the Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”),… More

Cannabis Control Board Approves Regulations & Application for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary Licenses

It’s official: New York’s first cannabis dispensaries will be owned by social equity applicants who have prior cannabis-related convictions.

During Thursday’s meeting, the Cannabis Control Board (“CCB”) voted to adopt final regulations for the (CAURD) licenses. The Board also signed off on a mockup of the application, which can be found here. In order to qualify for a CAURD license, applicants must prove they are justice-involved (meaning they or a direct family member were convicted of a marijuana crime before March 31,… More

UPDATE: Cannabis Legalization on the Ballot in Maryland This November

The Maryland Senate has now approved legislation that puts a referendum before voters this November on whether Maryland should legalize adult-use cannabis and begin implementing a regulatory framework if the ballot question is approved. Maryland’s Republican governor announced he will not sign or veto the legislation, and will allow it to take effect without his signature.

As we previously discussed, even if voters approve the referendum,… More

New York Cannabis Control Board: Seventh Meeting News Highlights

On Thursday, March 10, 2022, the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) held its seventh and longest public meeting to date, during which it made significant progress in developing the adult-use regulatory framework contemplated by the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation (MRTA). As detailed further below, the CCB: (i) previewed its proposed conditional adult-use retail dispensary regulations, (ii) approved the application form for conditional cultivator adult-use cultivator licenses and announced the application period for these licenses,… More

New York Office of Cannabis Management Weeding Out Unlicensed Cannabis Retailers

If you’re a New Yorker or a person who has visited New York recently, you’ve probably seen or heard of stores selling a product or service to consumers and providing cannabis as a “gift” in return. Others – banking on lack of enforcement – may simply be selling cannabis at retail even though no licenses are yet available. Some of the “dispensaries” are even in the heart of Manhattan. This practice,… More

New York Cannabis Control Board: Fifth Meeting News

On January 25, 2022, the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) held its fifth public meeting. The CCB and Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) made several noteworthy announcements, including the approval of delegation of hiring to the Executive Director to streamline hiring and onboarding, and the roll out of virtual “Cannabis Conversations” planned for different regions in the state, among other items.

Most notably,… More

More Than 400 New York Municipalities Opt out of Adult Use Cannabis Sales as Deadline Looms

The deadline for municipalities in New York State to choose whether they will allow retail sales of adult use cannabis is rapidly approaching. To date, approximately 25% of the state’s towns, and 30% of villages, have enacted local laws banning adult use retail dispensaries and on-site consumption lounges within their jurisdictions. So far, none of the state’s largest cities have opted out, and relatively few cities have opted out generally,… More