A New York-based lobbying firm that’s headed by a former Republican U.S. senator announced on Tuesday that it is entering the marijuana space after the newly inaugurated governor took key steps toward implementing legalization in the state. Former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY) founded Park Strategies in 1999, just after leaving the Senate with an established record of supporting the war on drugs. Now, his firm is getting into the cannabis business, offering services to influence regulations for both marijuana companies and ancillary markets. “With Governor Kathy Hochul’s prioritizing the cannabis law by making appointments to the cannabis office and governing board so quickly after having taken office tells us New York is serious about growing the cannabis industry in the state, and we are happy to be making our own investment to assure that success,” D’Amato said in a press release. Joseph Rossi, who is heading the firm’s Cannabis Practice Group, said Park Strategies “has deep roots in the cannabis space,” noting work on state cannabis legislation over the years.
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 09/07/2021 17:08:00