Introducing CWCBExpo’s New Podcast
Highest: In the Room
Highest: In the Room
A podcast series that discusses the business of cannabis in a LIT way
Reporting from the weed capital of the world, KymB interviews the power players in the wild industry of cannabis.
In Episode #1, KymB gets the “blunt” facts from the Beard Bros, Bill and Jeff Levers, on cannabis restrictions on Instagram and why cannabis media is an integral part of business.*
*Contains explicit language.
New York State News
Judge Rules for NYS in Lawsuit
NYS has gotten over another hurdle in court. On February 2, Judge Nardacci ruled against plaintiffs citing unfair issuance of licenses that was based on the social equity criterion laid out in the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act passed on March 31, 2021. Previous lawsuits claiming similar complaints were settled. The result of the latest ruling by Judge Narducci is a good sign that NYS is continuing to move the industry forward.
Plan to Shut Down Illicit Cannabis Operations
In our January 2024 Newsletter, we noted that Governor Kathy Hochul is committed to shutting down illicit cannabis shops across New York State. The movement to get this done has taken off in recent weeks with several local lawmakers at the NY Assembly and Senate levels supporting legislation and funding targeted at the closing of illegal shops and providing more authority to NYC Mayor Adams and the NYPD to get the job done.
Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar has aggressively been pushing her proposal to shutter illegal cannabis operations across the city, while Queens Senate member Leroy Comrie has pushed to get the law into the budget. It is called the Smoke Out Law.
Dispensary Openings
The Adult-Use dispensary openings continue across NYS and NYC. Here are 18 of the most recent openings.
Legacy Dispensary
COLONIE | 1839 Central Avenue, Colonie, NY
Website: www.legacy-dispensary.com
High Stone
STATEN ISLAND | This is a temporary delivery only location.No in-person or pre-order sales are allowed at this location.
Website: www.highstone.nyc
Royale Flower
ALBANY | 350 Northern Blvd, Albany, NY
Website: www.royaleflower.com
Brownies
COLONIE | 1686 Central Avenue, Albany NY
Website: www.browniesbrand.com
Northern Lights NY
MENANDS | 90 Broadway, Spc 8, Menands, NY
Website: www.nldispo.com/
Buddega NYC
WHITE PLAINS | This is a temporary delivery only location. No in-person or pre-order sales are allowed at this location.
Website: www.cannabisrealmny.com
The Grass Hole Cannabis
PLATTSBURGH | 779 State Route 3, Plattsburgh, NY
Website: www.thegrasshole.com
Cannavita
ASTORIA | 30-30 Steinway Street, Astoria, NY
Website: www.cannavita.us
Etain
WHITE PLAINS | 75 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY
Website: www.etainhealth.com
The Emerald
BUSHWICK | 85 Suydam St, Bushwick, NY
Website: www.theemeralddispensary.com
NYCBUD
LONG ISLAND | 44-45 Vernon Blvd, Long Island, NY
Website: www.nycbud.com
Puffalo Dreams
BUFFALO | 900 Niagara Falls Blvd, Buffalo, NY [Corrected Address]
Website: www.puffalodreams.com
New Metro
BAYSIDE | 221-50 Horace Harding Expy, Oakland Gardens, NY
Website: www.newmetro.club
Public Flower
BUFFALO | 232 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY
Elevate
MOUNT VERNON |127 S Terrace Ave Mt. Vernon, NY
Website: www.elevatecannabisny.com/
Exit 31 Exotic
UTICA | 255 Genesee Street, Utica, NY
Website: www.uticacannabisco.com
Tiki Leaves
CONEY ISLAND | 1511 Neptune Ave., Brooklyn, NY
Silk Road NYC
QUEENS | 166-30 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica, NY
Website: www.silkroadnyc.com/
Licensing News
Some good news for NYS revenues: NYS’s total adult-use cannabis sales are climbing toward $200MM since MRTA was passed. As of this month, total adult-use sales reached $183MM, as reported by the Office of Cannabis Management and Governor Hochul.
Also this month, the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM):
- Issued over 100 licenses in mid-February including 38 new Retail Dispensary Licenses, and 26 Micro-business Licenses.
- Approved Home Grow Cultivation Regulations
- Opened a new application window for more type 3 processor applications and to allow conditional cultivators and processors to continue transition to non-conditional licenses
New Jersey News
New Jersey Closes in on $1B in Total Cannabis Revenue
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) reported on February 15 that there were 102 medical and adult-use dispensaries across the state. In addition, total sales for medicinal and adult-use cannabis sales were closing in at $1B combined. These milestones are very good news.
Pennsylvania News
Governor Josh Shapiro Wants to Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis
Will Pennsylvania legalize adult-use cannabis anytime soon? Governor Ron Shapiro is supporting it and presented some key points during his February budget presentation as part of his efforts to legalize adult-use in PA. In his presentation he cited estimated cannabis revenues, social equity, and expungement of minor cannabis offenses and arrests. Not all groups in PA are supportive of the Governor’s efforts.
Majority of U.S. Voters Favor Legalization
U.S. Voters Want Legalization
We highlighted in our January newsletter that the issue of de-scheduling vs. rescheduling cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug was heating up. A poll found that the call to de-schedule cannabis is overwhelmingly supported by both Democrat and Republican voters. The results of a poll featured in NORML.org, compiled by The Tarrance Group, showed that well over 50% of respondents want to see full legalization in all 50 states.
Ukraine Legalizes Medical Cannabis
Ukraine’s President Zelensky Signs Medical Cannabis into Law
On February 15, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the December 21, 2023 bill that was approved by Ukraine’s Parliament. This new law will provide access for medical patients seeking treatment for a variety of conditions including PTSD. The war has created the need for medical cannabis to help treat the traumas of the war suffered by soldiers and citizens. Patients will need a prescription from a doctor to get the medical cannabis and to legally buy it. Recreational cannabis remains illegal. The new law takes effect in July 2024.
Germany Legalizes Adult-Use
Germany Legalizes Adult-use Cannabis
As of February 23, Germany became the third European country to legalize recreational use cannabis for anyone aged 18 or above.
Community News
Building Community Through Recognizing WOMXN Entrepreneurs
On Saturday February 17, CWCBExpo was honored to be the Nourishment Sponsor for the WOMXN Brunch. The brunch was expertly produced and organized by Solonje Burnett and Kymberly Byrnes (KymB). Solonje Burnett is Weed Auntie and Co-founder and Chief Culture & Community Officer of Erven. Kymberly Byrnes is Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of TribeTokes, and Host of “The Highest in the Room” podcast.
The luncheon took place in Williamsburg Brooklyn at the Moxie Hotel and was sold out. CWCBExpo was in attendance and is sharing some photos below. Thank you Solonje and KymB for making such a memorable afternoon.
Womxn Luncheon, February 17, 2024. Clockwise from the top left, Solonje Burnett, Weed Auntie, Co-founder and Chief Culture & Community Officer of Erven, with Christine Ianuzzi, CEO, CWCBExpo; Kymberly Byrnes (KymB), Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of TribeTokes; Women in attendance; “Local Roots” food table, the woman-owned small business which prepared the healthy, fresh and delicious lunch that was served at the event.
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Recent subjects include cannabis testing laboratories, packaging, facility security, and legalization and regulatory updates.
This is the event you need to attend.
June 5 – 6, 2024
Javits Convention Center, NYC