New York lawmakers push Gov to sign cannabis bill

New York lawmakers are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that would allow licensed marijuana producers to sell products to tribal retailers. The bill, known as the Cannabis Crop Rescue Act, would provide a relief valve to hundreds of cannabis farmers who are currently sitting on surpluses but have no place to sell their products.

The bill was passed by the state legislature in June but has not yet been signed by the governor. In a letter to Hochul, a group of 66 lawmakers, including the Assembly majority leader and the Senate finance committee chair, called on her to sign the bill quickly, saying that it is a "financial lifeline" for farmers.

The lawmakers argue that the state's legal cannabis market has been slow to roll out, and that farmers are paying the price. They say that the Cannabis Crop Rescue Act would give farmers another legal avenue to offload products and help them to stay afloat.

The bill is supported by tribal governments in New York, which have been ahead of state regulators in legalizing and selling marijuana. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe was the first tribe in the state to accept adult-use license applications in 2021.

If the bill is signed into law, it would allow licensed marijuana producers to sell products to tribal retailers on tribal land. This would provide farmers with a new market for their products and help to reduce the backlog of unsold cannabis.

The Cannabis Crop Rescue Act is just one of several bills that have been introduced in New York in recent months aimed at addressing the challenges facing the state's legal cannabis market. Other bills would allow for the sale of cannabis edibles and concentrates and would speed up the licensing process for new businesses.

The state's legal cannabis market officially opened in December 2021, but has been slow to roll out due to several factors, including regulatory delays, lawsuits, and logistical challenges. As a result, many cannabis farmers have been left with surpluses of unsold products.

The Cannabis Crop Rescue Act is a temporary measure that is designed to help farmers weather the storm until the state's legal cannabis market is fully up and running. The bill is supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including lawmakers, farmers, and tribal governments. It is hoped that Gov. Hochul will sign the bill into law soon.

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