New York Completes Cannabis Management Bureau Appointment |

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced last week the appointment of a board of directors who will help implement and enforce the state’s regulated cannabis industry.

On Wednesday, Hochul said that Reuben R. McDaniel III and Jessica Garcia have been appointed to the Office of Cannabis Management, which will “create and implement a comprehensive regulatory framework for the New York cannabis industry, including production, licensing, packaging and marketing.” and sale of cannabis products ”in collaboration with the Cannabis Control Board.

The appointments are part of an introduction of the state’s new marijuana law, which has been moving at an icy pace. In her announcement on Wednesday, Hochul, who became the first female governor of the Empire State late last month after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, expressed her frustration at the delays in the process.

“The cannabis industry in New York has stalled for far too long – I make important appointments to prepare the Office of Cannabis Management for success so it can get started right away,” said Hochul. “I am confident that Mr. McDaniel and Ms. Garcia will provide the board with professionalism and experience as we advance our state in this new industry.”

New York is catching up

New York legalized cannabis use earlier this year when Cuomo signed into law in March after several previous attempts failed.

The regulated cannabis market continues to be ironed out by New York politicians, with the first pharmacies not opening until next year at the earliest. But the law brought some immediate changes – namely, the ability to consume marijuana freely, including in public, where cigarette smoking is allowed.

But while regulators continue to work out the rules for the market, a few pharmacies have opened in tribal New York areas.

On Thursday, the New York Times featured some of these cannabis retail stores, including pharmacies on the St. Regis Mohawk reservation, which opened shortly after the state lifted the cannabis ban.

Although “New York customers may prefer closer locations in Massachusetts (where recreational marijuana sales began in 2018),” the New York Times said, “the owners of the reservation’s new cannabis dispensaries say they are doing stable business and the delays of. Heads of State who have been slow to legislate on adult sales of the drug benefit. “

“As such, the reservation pharmacies appear to be getting a start-up boost to a likely $ 4 billion industry in New York and continuing a long tradition of using products like tobacco and gasoline – stable moneymakers for the tribe – creating jobs and income” the report says.

Hochul’s appointments this week could be a shot in the arm for the sluggish introduction, with McDaniel and Garcia representing the last two appointments to the Office of Cannabis Management.

Earlier this month, Hochul announced that lawmakers had approved the appointment of Tremaine Wright as Chairman of the New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) and Christopher Alexander as Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).

The governor said at the time that one of her “top priorities is to finally get the cannabis industry up and running in New York – this was long overdue, but we will make up for lost time with the Senate confirmation of Tremaine Wright” chairman of cannabis Control Board and Christopher Alexander as Executive Director of the Office of Cannabis Management. “

“These two people bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their new roles, and I know they will do an excellent job designing and implementing safe, fair and transparent regulations that recognize the need to address the effects of the ban fix. ”on color communities. I look forward to working with them to build our state’s cannabis industry and make real change for New Yorkers, ”said Hochul.