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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York will evaluate its troubled recreational marijuana licensing program after lawsuits and bureaucratic stumbles severely hampered the legal market and allowed black-market sellers to flourish, Gov. Hochul, a Democrat, has described the state's recreational marijuana rollout as a “ disaster." The Office of Cannabis Management has just 32 people reviewing license applications but has received about 7,000 applications since last fall, a spokesman said. The state's review will embed Jeanette Moy, the commissioner of the state's Office of General Services, and other state government officials, in the cannabis management agency for at least 30 days. “We have built a cannabis market based on equity, and there is a lot to be proud of," said Chris Alexander, executive director of the Office of Cannabis Management.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Jeanette Moy, Chris Alexander, Moy Organizations: —, Cannabis, Democrat, Cannabis Management, New York Cannabis, General Services Locations: ALBANY, N.Y, — New York, New York City, New

☆ New York expands legal marijuana licenses — but some would-be retailers feel left behind
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A woman walks by a smoke shop in New York City that displays a marijuana leaf in the window, June 16, 2023. Coss Marte's marijuana dispensary in lower Manhattan has already cost him over $1 million, and it's not even open yet. On Tuesday, the state's Cannabis Control Board voted for new regulations that would expand New York's meager marketplace for legal weed by allowing a wider range of applicants. New York has prioritized retail licenses for people who had been convicted of marijuana offenses before weed became legal in 2021. But lawsuits by medical marijuana and veterans groups have paused the program and barred New York regulators from issuing more licenses or opening businesses for existing licenses.

Persons: it's, Marte, we've, Chris Alexander, they've Organizations: Cannabis Control, Cannabis Management Locations: New York City, Manhattan, ., York, New York

☆ Marijuana farmers in Colombia push government to find a place for them
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Cajibio CNN —On a recent Friday morning, about 200 coca and marijuana farmers gathered in the small town of Cajibio, southwestern Colombia, to hear the government out. More than 200,000 farmers of drug crops live in criminality in Colombia because their harvest is illegal, according to COCCAM, a workers’ union representing farmers involved in cocaine and marijuana production. Meeting between Colombia's government and drug farmers in Cajibio. Opponents of legal marijuana, like rightwing opposition leader German Vargas Lleras, say legal weed would only push more people into drug consumption, and celebrated the collapse of the latest regulation effort. “This is not about me or you getting high, it’s about the farmers and the producers,” Miranda told CNN.

Persons: Gloria Miranda, Yulier Lopez, Lopez, Ivan Duque, Cajibio, “, Stefano Pozzebon, Gustavo Petro, Petro, Juan Carlos Losada, ” Losada, Losada, German Vargas Lleras, ”, ” Lopez, Luis Cunda, Cunda, Colombia Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Cunda, Miranda, ’ Chris Alexander, ” Miranda, Nestor Osuna Organizations: CNN, Justice Ministry, Colombian, Liberal, ’, Human Rights Watch, New, Losada Locations: Cajibio, Colombia, UNODC, Colombian, CNN Colombian, Colombia’s Cauca, COCCAM, Cauca, ‘, Miranda, Caloto, United States, Uruguay, Latin America, Denver, Colorado, New York State, Bogota

☆ New York's first legal recreational marijuana shop opens
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Daniel Fastenberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The dispensary was opened in New York City's East Village by Housing Works, a non-profit organization that fights homelessness and AIDS. The non-profit was among the first 36 groups or individuals that the state awarded with a marijuana retail license last month. Retailers can also only sell marijuana that licensed New York producers grew and processed. Alexander, the state marijuana director, said local and state law enforcement have been educating gray-market vendors on the licensing rules, following up with cease-and-desist letters and, more recently, seizing merchandise. New York's marijuana sales will be taxed at 13.5%, revenue that will go to schools, public housing, addiction services and mental health services.

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