New York regulators vote to let marijuana patients grow their own weed

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has voted to adopt home grow rules that would allow medical marijuana patients and caregivers to grow and harvest their own cannabis plants. Tuesday’s decision will come into effect on October 5.

BREAKING: Medical Home Grow approved!

✅Certified Medical Cannabis Patients and Designated Caregivers in New York can now harvest immature and mature cannabis plants. #NYCCB

— NYS Office of Cannabis Management (@nys_cannabis) September 20, 2022

The rule will allow registered medical marijuana patients and caregivers to grow and harvest up to six cannabis plants at a time. You could own up to five pounds of this cannabis, which complies with the state’s cannabis laws.

According to Marijuana Moment, OCM executive director Chris Alexander said her office has prioritized medical marijuana patients and that that focus “will continue to be a priority.”

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“I am very pleased that we can offer patients this more cost-effective option for accessing this drug,” said Alexander.

New York State began accepting applications for cannabis dispensaries on August 25. These licenses, known as “Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries” (CAURD), are granted to applicants who have been “involved in the justice system,” meaning they have been negatively impacted by anti-cannabis laws.

Photo by RODNAE Productions via Pexels

The goal of the OCM is to have some pharmacies operational by the end of the year. “CAURD licensees will be able to make the first legal cannabis sales in New York before the end of 2022 and accelerate the delivery of investments to communities across New York State that have been impacted by disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition,” it said the official site.

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Meanwhile, New York is working hard to make the transition to a cannabis state as seamless as possible. While the drug was legalized in March of last year, it has taken the state some time to get all the pieces in order and establish a functioning legal market.