New York’s top cannabis regulators held their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday and they’re doubling down on outreach, both in the legislature and with stakeholders across the state. The Office of Cannabis Management’s Cannabis Control Board’s meeting also focused on equity and on jurisdictions that have opted out of cannabis retail and consumption spaces. Tremaine Wright, head of the CCB, said during the meeting that the Board has met with members of the Legislature, including the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, to share progress and to “seek their partnership in raising awareness for a series of community outreach and education events that we’re calling ‘cannabis conversations.’” Those Cannabis Conversations so far include 11 “regional discussions” on a wide spectrum of topics related to the upcoming launch of New York’s adult-use cannabis market. Wright said that she was “thrilled” that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget, which was released last week, includes the creation of the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund. The public-private partnership fund will “promote equity and economic justice in New York’s cannabis industry,” Hochul noted in her budget documents.
Alyson Martin, Cannabis Wire, 01/24/2022 19:00:00