Just days after the signing of legislation that legalizes adult-use cannabis, New York state has launched a new website that will serve as the official word on marijuana laws, regulations and policies as the long process of implementation begins.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on April 2 the launch of a website for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. The site will instruct people on the state’s regulatory structure while overseeing the licensure, cultivation, production, distribution, sale and taxation of medical, adult-use and cannabinoid hemp.
There will also be services available that will provide resources for people searching for medical cannabis ID cards, caregivers and practitioners. Businesses looking to acquire licenses to take part in the adult-use, medical and cannabinoid hemp industries can also use the website.
“Legalizing cannabis was the first step in this historic endeavor to right the wrongs of the past,” Cuomo said. “The Office of Cannabis Management’s website provides critical preliminary information pending the creation of the Cannabis Control Board about the future of this industry as well as resources for individuals and businesses seeking information on the future of cannabis in New York State.”
The news follows the announcement on March 31 that Cuomo signed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state which is projected to bring in a projected $350 million annually from tax collections.
This bill was a key part of the 2021 State of the State agenda and will expand New York State’s existing medical cannabis and cannabinoid hemp programs. In 2019, Cuomo signed legislation that would decriminalize the penalties for unlawful possession of cannabis and expunge records for certain marijuana convicts.
