What to know about New York Conditional Cannabis Cultivation Licenses
Exactly one week after it was introduced into the New York state legislature, a bill that will hand out Conditional Cannabis Cultivation Licenses has been signed into law by Governor Hochul.
Assembly Bill A2682A and Senate Bill S8084A were proposed in an effort to help equity business applicants to actually have product to put on their shelves when doors to retail stores open in 2023. With the outdoor planting season in New York beginning in May, there was a sense of urgency to move these bills through quickly.
Now that it is passed, the license application form and manner for these licenses are still to be determined. However the Governor’s office stated that the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) would open the program as soon as possible.
Hemp farmers and licensed hemp processors have the opportunity to apply for and obtain the following license types:
Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Cultivator License
Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Processor License
According to the Governor’s office, these conditional licenses “must meet certain requirements, including safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices, participation in a social equity mentorship program, and engagement in a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization.”
A conditional cannabis cultivation license will allow farmers to grow outdoors or in a greenhouse for up to two years from the issuance of the license. It also permits the manufacturing and distribution of cannabis flower products without a recreational processor or distributor license until June 1, 2023.
Cultivators are limited to one acre (43,560 square feet) of flowering canopy outdoors or 25,000 square feet in a greenhouse and may use up to 20 artificial lights. This can also split between outdoor and greenhouse grows with a maximum total canopy of 30,000 square feet, as long as the greenhouse flowering canopy remains under 20,000 square feet.
If you’re a licensed hemp cultivator or processor in New York state and need help obtaining a conditional cannabis cultivation license, contact Greener Consulting Group to speed through the licensing process without all the hassle that can come with it.