Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that legalizing marijuana will help boost the economy and aid in the recovery effort from the state’s multi-billion-dollar budget deficit caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Governor announced that he will “soon” legalize marijuana during a virtual event last week to promote his new book, American Crisis, which is about the […]
New York
New Yorkers Can Now Apply To Have Their Marijuana Conviction Records Destroyed
New Yorkers who had their low-level marijuana convictions expunged from their record, per the passage of the Marijuana and Decriminalization and Expungements Bill in July of 2019, can now go a step further by requesting that the physical documentation of these arrests be destroyed. Although the history of these charges have now been sealed from […]
New York issues rules on destroying expunged marijuana conviction records
A state law passed last year legally expunged all convictions for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. But the paperwork remains in the court system’s files and those of police agencies. To get those documents destroyed, a person who had convictions for unlawful possession or fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana may follow instructions […]
New York to Require Licenses to Manufacture and Sell Hemp Derived CBD Products
By Jared Schwass, Matthew R. Kittay, and Michael R. Herz Hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products have seen an increase in demand over the last few years, but the legal and regulatory structure behind those products has been unclear and confusing. One reason behind the confusion is that there has been a lag in the implementation […]
Why marijuana supply chain is key to New York legalization
An icy breeze blows off the shores of Seneca Lake, rattling the glass panes of the Cornell University greenhouse in Geneva, a small city in the northern Finger Lakes about an hour east of Rochester. Inside the greenhouse — part of Cornell’s AgriTech satellite campus — it is warm and humid. Graduate student Jacob Toth […]
New York City Is Shut Down, But Its Black-Market Weed Is Booming
“There’s a morgue with refrigerated trucks down the street from me,” says one West Village customer. “If I could live in my bong right now, I’d do it” “There’s a morgue with refrigerated trucks down the street from me,” says one West Village customer. “If I could live in my bong right now, I’d do […]
Staying Safe While Delivering Weed in the Pandemic
Legal and illegal cannabis sales have spiked, even though doctors warn that smoking and vaping worsen symptoms and spread. These businesses face a new problem: keeping employees safe. While millions of Americans are at home, socially distancing to curb the spread of the coronavirus, fleets of men and women head out daily to make deliveries. […]
Marijuana legalization ‘not likely’ in New York budget, Cuomo says
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday the state is not likely to authorize marijuana for adult use as part of its budget process, dealing a blow to advocates who have spent years pushing for full legalization of the drug. Cuomo, a Democrat, had proposed legalizing recreational marijuana as part of his initial $178 billion […]
Coronavirus Won’t Stop New York From Trying to Legalize Marijuana
Despite the fact that New York state is on a fast track to becoming the new global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic and politicians are locking horns over how to best respond to the crisis, some non-virus-related government business will continue as usual. And that will include marijuana legalization, Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters this week. “We […]
Amid Coronavirus, San Francisco, New York, Deem Marijuana Businesses ‘Essential’
When San Francisco announced its “shelter in place” order this week, it said only “essential businesses” could remain open to support the public’s needs, such as grocery stores and gas stations. Missing from that list were marijuana dispensaries. But a day after residents were told to stay home, the city revised its position and deemed […]
