The highly anticipated legal recreational marijuana industry in New York is moving forward.
The state’s legislators have approved leaders for the state’s recreational marijuana program.
In a rare special session, the legislators had approved two leaders for the state’s recreational marijuana program.
State leaders confirm former Assemblywoman Tremaine Wright to serve as chair of the Cannabis Control Board.
Criminal justice reform advocate Christopher Alexander will serve as Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management.
Both nominations were made by recently appointed Governor Kathy Hochul.
Hunter Friedland, the CEO of Cirona Labs in Geneva, told WHAM, that the approval of board leaders will put him one step closer to getting a license for his company to create THC infused products as well.
“Obviously it’s gone a little bit slower than expected,” he says. “There’s been a lot of back and forth in terms of putting this industry together but, you know, we’ve just kind of ridden the wave and you know I do everything we can to stay on top of things and just excited that now we’re in a position to really get things started.”
The state’s Office of Cannabis Management will decide what rules and regulations growers and retailers will need to follow and how they will be enforced.
According to Senator Jeremy Cooney with the Marijuana Task Force, the confirmations are an important step to get licenses into hands of farmers and entrepreneurs by growing season next summer.
“They’re anxious. They want a license. They want to find out the timetable and all of that can start as soon as we have leadership at the state level,” he says. “We have to get this right. We are committed to getting it right. We believe that Chris Alexander and Tremaine Wright are the people to move us in that direction.”