OCM Advances Sustainability Initiatives And Regulatory Updates At Cannabis Advisory Board Meeting

Yesterday, the Cannabis Advisory Board (CAB) gathered at SUNY Global to receive updates from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) on the continued expansion of New York’s legal cannabis market.

OCM staff provided CAB members with information on New York’s adult-use cannabis market, social equity progress, and new sustainability measures to promote environmental responsibility across the industry. Board members also engaged in a robust discussion where they provided their comments on current proposals to improve Packaging, Marketing, Labeling and Advertising (PMLA) requirements and proposed Public Convenience and Advantage (PCA) regulations.

The CAB is a multidisciplinary group of experts, composed of 13 voting members appointed by the Governor and State Legislature, and supported by a range of experts from various agencies across New York State. The CAB is tasked with providing advice and recommendations to the Cannabis Control Board and OCM on the use of adult-use, medical cannabis, cannabinoid hemp, and hemp extract in New York State. The CAB oversees the Community Grants Reinvestment Fund, which reinvests 40% of the tax revenue from cannabis sales to communities disproportionately impacted by past cannabis prohibition.

Felicia A. B. Reid, OCM Interim Executive Director said: “As OCM designs, builds, and works to best support an equitable cannabis market: I want to thank the CAB for their partnership. I look forward to our continued discussions, and to sharing all the work that keeps the agency going.” 

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Joe Belluck, Chair of the New York State Cannabis Advisory Board: “While we still have much work to do, there is some good news. For the first time in CAB’s history, prior to voting on PCA regulations, we received a formal acknowledgment from the OCM staff and CCB to get our Board’s wisdom and input. There’s some fine tuning of the process, but I want to extend my sincere thanks to the OCM staff. I am optimistic and hopeful about the regulations and other aspects of implementing the MRTA.”

Sustainability

In line with New York’s climate goals, OCM announced the launch of its Energy & Environmental Sustainability webpage (https://cannabis.ny.gov/sustainability) and the rollout of the PowerScore platform. This platform, available at no cost to licensees, will allow cannabis businesses to track and benchmark energy use and production efficiency. Licensees will receive details for PowerScore setup starting the week of September 3rd, with the first report due by August 31, 2025. The initiative is designed to help reduce operating costs while minimizing environmental impact. More details to come about PowerScore in coming days.

Market and SEE Update

During the meeting, Senior Director of Policy, John Kagia, provided a market update where he shared that legal sales have crossed the half billion-dollar threshold for the first time ever, at $529.2 million. August saw the first $18 million week. Enforcement actions against illicit operators continue to lift overall sales surging to $160 million in Q2.

OCM’s Director of Economic Development, Tabatha Robinson, provided an overview of the adult-use market, noting that 53% of licenses are held by Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicants. Women-owned businesses lead with 150 licenses, followed by Minority-owned businesses with 136 licenses.

The total number of adult-use licenses issued in 2024 is at a high of 701, with an impressive 55% being held by SEE applicants. This milestone underscores the program’s unwavering dedication to promoting diversity and supporting underrepresented communities. The ownership breakdown of licenses is: 39% minority-owned businesses, 41% women-owned businesses, 9% service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, 9% distressed farmers, and 6% individuals from communities disproportionally impacted. This diverse participation highlights New York’s commitment to an inclusive and equitable cannabis industry.

To date there are 165 dispensaries open for business across the Empire State. A full list of New York’s licensed, operational adult-use cannabis retailers is available here.