New York Launches Statewide Roundtable Series to Update Adult-Use Marijuana Rules
- The New York State Office of Cannabis Management launched an Adult-Use Cannabis Regulations Round Table Series, starting with an event at Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson.
- The series, initiated five years after legalizing adult-use marijuana, aims to gather feedback from marijuana business owners, equity licensees, and community members to review and potentially revise the state’s cannabis regulatory framework.
- The sessions focus on ensuring that those directly impacted by the cannabis market have a voice in its development, emphasizing inclusivity, responsiveness, and real-world experiences.
- Additional roundtable events are planned statewide, including stops in Buffalo and Brooklyn, as the Office of Cannabis Management continues working on regulations that prioritize equity, public health, transparency, and market stability.
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management announced that it has launched a new Adult-Use Cannabis Regulations Round Table Series, beginning with an event held in Hudson at Columbia-Greene Community College.
The series comes five years after New York legalized adult-use marijuana and is designed to gather direct feedback from stakeholders as officials review and potentially revise the state’s regulatory framework.
According to the Office of Cannabis Management, the roundtables will bring together marijuana business owners, equity licensees, stakeholders and community members to discuss what parts of the current system are working, what challenges remain, and what changes may be needed moving forward. The feedback collected through the discussions is expected to help inform future regulatory decisions made by the New York State Cannabis Control Board.
L. Simone Washington, chief equity officer for the Office of Cannabis Management, said the sessions are intended to make sure people directly impacted by the market have a voice in how it develops.
“The sessions are about listening with intention and ensuring that the voices of stakeholders and equity licensees are reflected in the evolution and maturation of this market,” said Washington. “We are committed to building a regulatory framework that is responsive, inclusive, and grounded in real experiences.”
State officials say the new series builds on the model used in 2022, when New York first gathered public input while developing its initial adult-use marijuana rules. This latest effort signals that regulators are now looking not just at launching the market, but at refining it as the industry continues to expand.
The Hudson event is the first in a broader statewide series. Additional stops are scheduled for Buffalo on April 14 and Brooklyn on April 21.
The Office of Cannabis Management oversees New York’s medical marijuana, adult-use marijuana and cannabinoid hemp programs, and says the rulemaking process will continue to focus on equity, public health, transparency and long-term market stability.