Page 43 - Valley Table - Spring 2022

What is the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act?
Signed into law on March 31, 2021, MRTA legalized the recreational, adult- usage of marijuana in the state. While smokers are free to light up without penalization, MRTA was also created to promote social equity for those who had been disproportionately wronged, and even imprisoned, by prohibition of the drug in the past, as well as support New York’s longstanding “farm-to-fork” movement. Although cannabis isn’t
an edible vegetable, the state wants small farms to grow the crop instead
of mega corporations like those that have taken over the industry in Oregon and California.
Immediately after the bill was signed into law, criminal records with certain cannabis infractions were expunged— meaning pot-related arrests, court cases, and convictions are treated as
if they never happened. Today, adults over 21 can legally possess up to 3 oz. on their person and up to 5 pounds at home—as long as it’s stored securely away from anyone under 21 years old.
Besides legalizing recreational use, MRTA created the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the body who oversees it, the Cannabis Control Board (CCB). Anything marijuana- related will have to go through both regulatory offices, including business permits, dispensary allotments,
CBD product rules, and medical classifications. But here’s the thing— just because the law passed, doesn’t mean the terms are immediate.
A Gray Area
If you’ve been counting the days until you can step into an adult-use dispensary in New York, or simply wondering what the state’s weed status is—there’s a bit of a hold up. The CCB anticipates dispensaries won’t open until the end of this year at the earliest, or even as late as spring 2023, due
“Money is already pouring into some towns,
like Warwick, where Chicago-based cannabis producer Green Thumb Industries purchased 38 acres of former prison land to build a state- of-the-art marijuana production plant.”
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to “some administrative delays.” Plus, it will be an even longer wait until home cultivation is allowed—up to 18 months from the first legal adult-use sale, per MRTA stipulations.
Legalization rollout was initially supposed to take place in increments after the bill was signed. However, appropriate boards weren’t formed until Governor Kathy Hochul took office at the end of August 2021. Apparently her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, was dragging his heels. “The previous governor was not that excited
about it,” says Senator Michelle Hinchey, who represents northern Ulster, Greene, and the western Capital Region. Appointments to the CCB—the new governing body of cannabis in New York—were only made in October 2021, so although MRTA was enacted in March, any formal guidelines and plans to move forward weren’t settled until late
last year.
It’s going to be a lengthy procedure,
but CCB member and Rosendale resident Jen Metzger says it’s necessary