Although marijuana is already legal for adults over 21, New York recreational dispensaries aren’t expected to open their doors until late 2022 or even some time 2023. The Office of Cannabis Management, or OCM, still hasn’t issued any licenses to growers, processors, dispensaries, or cannabis lounges. There’s still no telling when licenses will be awarded. In fact, in four meetings held between October and December, the OCM has yet to address licensing. Recreational marijuana sales –
Effective immediately after the bill was signed, adults may legally possess up to 3 ounces of marijuana, or 24 grams of cannabis concentrates such as cannabis oil syringes, wax, shatter, and hash. Getting caught with more than 3 ounces could result in a fine of up to $125, while more than 16 ounces is considered a misdemeanor. However, in the privacy of their own homes, residents are allowed to possess up to 5 pounds of marijuana.
The law also allows each adult resident to grow up to three mature cannabis plants with a limit of 12 plants per household. However, there is a delay in the implementation of the rule. While medical marijuana patients will be able to start growing marijuana at home sometime this spring, others will have to wait another year after the opening of New York’s recreational marijuana sales and dispensaries.
The new law also allows the expungement of criminal records for anyone convicted of non-violent marijuana-related crimes in the past.
Municipalities in the state were permitted to ban cannabis-related businesses if they did so before Dec. 31, 2021. Nearly 600 of the state’s roughly 1,500 municipalities have done just that.
Also in November, regulators approved rules for New York State’s hemp program. While the law now permits the sale of dried hemp flower, delta-8 THC products produced from hemp have been prohibited.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said that the market is expected to bring in billions of dollars in sales and generate more than $1.25 billion in marijuana tax revenue over the next six years.
