Kick-starting New York’s Adult-Use Cannabis Program: Legislature Passes SB 8084

On February 16, 2022, the New York State Legislature passed SB 8084, making significant changes to the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act to kick-start New York’s adult-use cannabis program. The bill permits current hemp cultivators and hemp processors to apply to grow and process adult-use marijuana, creating two new temporary license categories: (1) the conditional adult-use cultivator license; and (2) the conditional adult-use processor license. Subject to additional parameters, only current hemp license holders can apply for these conditional licenses. According to data from the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Office of Cannabis Management, there are approximately 63 hemp cultivators and 25 cannabinoid hemp processor license holders active in New York today.

The legislation mandates the Office of Cannabis Management to issue the conditional licenses no later than December 31, 2022, and the licenses will be valid through June 30, 2024.

Kick-Starting New York’s Adult-Use Cannabis Program. Legislature Passes SB 8084 Kaminsky Willner