New York Residents to Be Allowed to Grow Cannabis
On February 16, authorities in the state of New York approved a decree allowing residents to grow cannabis for personal use. The law is set to take effect in 60 days, after a period of public discussion.
Home Growers Can Produce Over 2 Kilograms of Cannabis
According to the approved regulations, New Yorkers will be able to grow up to six cannabis plants per person, with the condition that no more than three plants are flowering at the same time. Additionally, no more than 12 cannabis plants may be cultivated in a single household, regardless of the number of residents. Amateur growers will also be allowed to produce and store up to 2.2 kilograms (about 4.85 pounds) of cannabis.
The Cannabis Control Board (CCB) had planned to review the decree in January, but New York Governor Kathy Hochul canceled the meeting after learning that officials had approved only three cannabis licenses. The governor was frustrated by the slow pace of issuing permits to cannabis retailers and stated that she was tired of waiting and ready to dissolve the CCB. After hearing this, the agency staff quickly complied with Hochul’s directive.
Over 100 New Cannabis Businesses to Open in New York
CCB officials not only approved the rules for home cultivation but also gave the green light to issue more than 100 licenses for the sale, cultivation, and processing of cannabis, as well as two permits for cannabis research. Currently, there are only 40 cannabis stores operating in the state, so this decision could double the number of retail outlets.
Governor Hochul commented on the news: “The recreational cannabis industry is developing in New York and is helping to grow the region’s economy. Approving more than 100 license applications is a great start to the year and an event that creates opportunities for new businesses in municipalities.”
Due to the small number of cannabis stores, the volume of recreational cannabis sales in New York last year was only $150 million. Three percent of cannabis sales revenue (about $4.8 million) came from entrepreneurs selling their products at Cannabis Growers’ Showcases.
Cannabis Fairs and Medical Cannabis in New York
Medical cannabis also did not see huge demand. Last year, about 121,900 patients registered for the state’s medical cannabis access program. Considering New York’s population of 19.8 million, only 0.61% of residents legally used cannabis for treatment. This figure is more than 11 times lower than the U.S. record, set in Stone County, where one in every 14 residents received a cannabis prescription.