NY Cannabis Update: Who’s Who on the New York Cannabis Control Board?

new york cannabis

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Even given the dynamic and fast-moving nature of the cannabis industry, the upcoming launch of New York’s adult-use cannabis industry is noteworthy. With some sources projecting that New York cannabis sales could reach $3.7 billion by 2025, a large number of investors and entrepreneurs are lining up to enter the Empire State’s market.

If you’re interested in understanding New York cannabis licensing requirements, we suggest you get up to speed with our recent blog on the topic. In today’s post, we’re going to shift our focus to the five members of the New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB), the office charged—in concert with the state’s Office of Cannabis Management—with creating the regulatory framework for the New York cannabis industry.

A diverse group that includes veterans from the worlds of finance, labor unions, state politics, and beyond, the members of the CCB are some of the most crucial figures in New York cannabis regulation. Here’s an inside look at their backgrounds and their goals for the New York Cannabis Control Board.

New York Cannabis Control Board: Meet the Members

While the state has faced criticism for the slow rollout of the CCB, Governor Kathy Hochul has signaled her investment in “jumpstarting” the process. After the Governor announced the final two nominees to the CCB in late September, the new CCB held its first meeting in early October 2021. Here are the current members of the CCB and their most notable experience:

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Tremaine Wright, Chairwoman

As a former Brooklyn Assemblywoman and former chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, Tremaine Wright brings a wealth of knowledge around the issues facing communities of color. As current director of the Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment, Wright is expected to help ensure that cannabis businesses have adequate access to banking and other financial services.

Jen Metzger

Like Chairwoman Wright, Former State Senator Metzger brings strong legislative experience to the CCB. First active in local government in the Town of Rosedale and later elected as a New York State Senator for a term, Metzger worked to help fight predatory utility rates and practices and promote greater access to broadband in underserved areas.

Adam Perry

A partner at the Buffalo law office of Hodgson Russ, Adam Perry specializes in employment-related litigation and helps manage the firm’s cannabis and hemp-related practice. According to Speaker of the New York State Assembly speaker, Carl Heastie: “Adam W. Perry is deeply invested in New York’s communities, and will bring that dedication to his new role and be an asset to the Cannabis Control Board.”

Reuben R. McDaniel, III

As the President and CEO of DASNY, Reuben McDaniel is an accomplished executive known as a team player. Prior to his appointment, McDaniel was an investment banker with more than three decades of experience in public and corporate finance.

Jessica Garcia

A rising figure in the labor union world, Jessica Garcia serves as Assistant to the President of a national union representing workers from across the food supply chain, retail, and healthcare. What’s more, Garcia brings strong experience as an organizer and immigrant policy advocate. As such, she serves on several prominent state and local boards.

New York Cannabis Control Board: The Groundwork for Success

Learning about the members of the CCB is a valuable facet of the landscape in the New York cannabis industry, but understanding how the board members’ interests and backgrounds may influence the sector could be a business differentiator. That’s why partnering with an experienced guide such as Bridge West can dramatically increase your chances of success.

Drawing on our deep knowledge of New York’s regulatory and business environment, we guide prospective applicants through the maze of rules and regulations involved in securing a cannabis license there.

Ready to talk? Reach out anytime.

How to Win a Cannabis License in New Jersey as a Diversely Owned Business

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As New Jersey gears up to launch its much-anticipated legal cannabis industry, the Garden State is sending out a clear signal: The state intends to spur diversity in cannabis, and prioritization will be given to those cannabis business license applicants who represent diversely owned businesses. If you’re a woman, a member of an ethnic minority, or a disabled veteran, this presents an opportunity for you to secure a license in what will be a highly competitive arena.

We’ve talked about the cannabis licensing requirements in New Jersey before (we suggest you revisit that article to familiarize yourself with the landscape first). Today, we’ll talk about the ways in which the state plans to incentivize these diversely owned businesses and share some of the ways you can gain a competitive advantage.

Cannabis Licensing Requirements in New Jersey: Identifying Diversely Owned Businesses

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The desire to support diversity in cannabis is hardly limited to New Jersey. From coast to coast, many states have dedicated resources and special programs with the goal of bringing underrepresented populations into the legal cannabis industry. But New Jersey’s program—enshrined in the recently-adopted adult-use law—is robust and potentially far-reaching. The state’s Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) earmarked nearly one-third of all cannabis business licenses to diversely owned businesses. At present, 15% of licenses will be awarded to businesses certified by the State of New Jersey as Minority-Owned Businesses, and an additional 15% will go to those with designations as Women-Owned Businesses and Veteran Owned Businesses.

On a technical note, New Jersey defines “diversely owned businesses” as those in which at least 51% of the ownership interest is held by persons who are minorities, women, disabled veterans, or any combination thereof; and the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the minorities who own it. The State has a formal process to apply for these certifications.

Impactful though this stands to be, it’s not the end of the story. In addition to the priority given to minority applicants, the CRC will prioritize applicants with ties to “impact zones”—those municipalities negatively impacted by unemployment, poverty, or past cannabis enforcement activity.

In addition, the CRC—addressing concerns that many current cannabis license holders have out-of-state ownership—will give priority to longtime state residents. The Commission defines these as those people who have resided in New Jersey for at least five years and who hold at least a 5% stake in any entity seeking a cannabis license in New Jersey.

Cannabis Licensing Requirements in New Jersey: Get a Leg Up

As we stated earlier, New Jersey’s focus on diversity in cannabis presents a special opportunity for minorities, women, and disabled veterans. But these attributes on their own aren’t enough to guarantee success when it comes to crafting a winning cannabis business license application. Successful applications will need to demonstrate:

    • Direct experience in the cannabis industry
    • A detailed business plan that includes all pertinent, cannabis-specific aspects—including compliance software and reporting tools
    • Demonstration of financial and managerial competence
    • Environmental-impact plans and sanitation procedures
    • Safety and security procedures, including those for cybersecurity and diversion prevention
    • An emergency management plan, as well as procedures to report adverse events

Whether you represent a diversely owned business or not, Bridge West can dramatically increase your chances of application success. Over the past dozen years, we’ve helped over 400 applicants win cannabis business licenses all across the United States. We guide entrepreneurs through the many rules and regulations involved in securing a cannabis license, and the relationship doesn’t end there. With access to funders, mentors, and other key stakeholders, Bridge West is the partner you need to maximize your chances of success in this fast-moving and competitive industry.

Ready to talk? Reach out anytime.

Cannabis Licensing Requirements in Connecticut: State-Specific Regulations and Laws

Cannabis licensing requirements in Connecticut

​​As Connecticut prepares to issue cannabis business licenses, potential applicants are eager to learn the cannabis licensing requirements in Connecticut. While fine-tuning each Connecticut cannabis licensing requirement still needs to be worked out, what’s clear is that understanding the regulatory, financial and marketing landscape will require attention to detail, a little luck, and the help of an experienced and trustworthy partner.

Cannabis Licensing Requirements in Connecticut: Regulatory Framework

As of this writing, the department has not yet determined the maximum number of licenses issued in each category. However, the state has made it clear that one Connecticut cannabis licensing requirement is that at least half of all such cannabis business licenses be allocated to social equity applicants. At present, the state’s Social Equity Council is currently determining the criteria for such applicants.

The Council is required to reach its conclusions no later than January 1, 2022. Some 30 days after the Council has identified the required qualifications and supporting documentation for such applicants, the state may begin accepting cannabis license applications. Thus far, the state has identified nine categories:

  • Retailer
  • Hybrid Retailer (selling both medical and adult-use cannabis)
  • Cultivator (working 15,000 square feet or more)
  • Micro-Cultivator (working between 2,000 and 10,000 square feet)
  • Cannabis Product Manufacturer
  • Cannabis Food and Beverage Manufacturer
  • Cannabis Product Packager
  • Cannabis Delivery Service
  • Cannabis Transporter

Connecticut will process cannabis business license applications through the Department of Consumer Protection (DPA). As of this writing, the department has not yet determined the maximum number of licenses issued in each category. This means that all applicants must—in addition to being familiar with the regulatory framework—be laser-focused on the type of license they’re pursuing.

Licensing and Application Fees

Connecticut plans to hold two lotteries for license applications: The first one will award licenses earmarked for social equity applicants, as noted earlier. The second will include unsuccessful social equity applicants as well as all applicants not designated as social equity recipients. The system is designed to avoid the possibility of applicants having to pay large sums even if they are unsuccessful in being granted a license. The current fee schedule is:

  • Retailer or hybrid retailer fee: $500 lottery fee, $5,000 provisional license fee, $25,000 final license or renewal fee;
  • Cultivator fee: $1,000 lottery fee, $25,000 provisional license fee, $75,000 final license or renewal fee;
  • Micro-cultivator fee: $250 lottery fee, $500 provisional license fee, $1,000 final license or renewal fee;
  • Product manufacturer fee: $750 lottery fee, $5,000 provisional license fee, $25,000 final license or renewal fee;
  • Food and beverage manufacturer, delivery service, or transporter fee:$250 lottery fee, $1,000 provisional license fee, $5,000 final license or renewal fee;
  • Product packager fee: $500 lottery fee, $5,000 provisional license fee, $25,000 final license or renewal fee

You’ll note there are fees for “provisional licenses.” These licenses will be granted to those applicants selected in the lottery; they expire after 14 months and are not renewable. During this time, license-holders may apply for a final license. These final license applications will require: 

  • A contract with an approved seed-to-sale vendor in accordance with the bill’s provisions
  • A legal right to occupy the location where the cannabis business named in the application will be located
  • Any necessary local zoning approval for the cannabis establishment
  • A social equity plan
  • A workforce development plan
  • Written policies for preventing diversion and misuse of cannabis and sales to underage persons
  • Any and all other security requirements set forth by the department based on the specific license type
  • A labor peace agreement entered into between the licensee and a bona fide labor organization
  • A certification that the licensee is using a project labor agreement for construction projects of $5 million or more

Navigate through the regulatory landscape and increase your chances of success by working with a cannabis consulting agency to secure your Connecticut cannabis license.