ALBANY, NY — New York cannabis industry organizations joined state lawmakers and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) May 19 to celebrate recent progress strengthening market integrity and consumer protections across the state’s legal cannabis industry while calling for continued collaboration to ensure New York’s regulated marketplace can continue to grow safely and sustainably.
The event, hosted by Acting OCM Executive Director John Kagia, highlighted the launch of New York’s seed-to-sale tracking program, ongoing efforts to combat inversion and illicit activity, and key proposals included in the pending state budget aimed at supporting legal operators and protecting consumers.
Participants also highlighted several policy priorities aimed at strengthening the legal market, including proposals to remove the excise tax on medical cannabis products to improve affordability for patients and advancing the Cannabis Supply Chain Integrity and Anti-Inversion Act to combat illicit product infiltration into the regulated market.
In a moment of unity for New York’s cannabis industry, the event drew a range of organizations representing cultivators, processors, retailers, medical operators, equity businesses, and supply chain partners from across the state. Representatives from the Empire Cannabis Manufacturers Alliance (ECMA), New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association (NYMCIA), Association of New York Cannabis Processors (ANYCP), Cannabis Farmers Alliance (CFA), Cannabis Retail Alliance of New York (CRANY), Cannabis Association for Unified Retail Development (CAURD Inc.), New York Cannabis Retail Association (NYCRA), Black Cannabis Industry Association (BCIA), Cannabis Association of New York (CANY), and seed-to-sale operator METRC joined lawmakers and regulators for the event.
“We’ve come a long way in building the kind of equitable and safe legal cannabis market that New Yorkers deserve – but our work isn’t done yet,” said Democratic State Senator Jeremy Cooney. “I’m proud to join my partners in continuing to promote our market, increase accessibility to safe products, and make medical cannabis more affordable for New Yorkers.”
“Just a few years ago, many people questioned whether New York could successfully launch a legal cannabis market that balanced economic opportunity, public safety, consumer protection, and social equity,” said Assemblymember John Zaccaro Jr., a Democrat from the Bronx. “Today we are proving that we could and the progress we are seeing did not happen by accident, it took leadership from every corner to make it happen.”
“An infusion of products coming from outside of New York undermines our industry and we have an anti-inversion bill to make sure products from places like Oklahoma, Ohio, and Michigan are not showing up here,” said Assemblymember Landon Dais, a Democrat from New York City. “This legislation will help ensure that these products, which often fail testing in those states, are not making their way into our market and putting New Yorkers in harm’s way.”
“New York’s legal cannabis industry can only succeed if consumers have confidence in the integrity of the marketplace and licensed operators know the rules are being enforced fairly across the board,” said ECMA President Mack Hueber. “The rollout of seed-to-sale tracking, continued focus on combating inversion, and efforts to reduce unnecessary costs on legal operators are all important steps toward building a stable and sustainable market that prioritizes public safety, transparency, and long-term economic opportunity.”
“The medical cannabis community has long supported strong regulatory oversight and product transparency because patients depend on it,” said NYMCIA Chair Don Williams. “Policies that strengthen market integrity while improving affordability and access for patients are critical to ensuring New York’s cannabis system works for everyone it serves.”
“New York has worked hard to build a cannabis industry rooted in equity and small business opportunity, but those goals only succeed if the legal market is protected and able to compete fairly,” said CANY President Damien Cornwell. “We must ensure there’s enforcement against illicit activity and advance policies that reduce unnecessary burdens on legal operators so that these businesses not only survive, but also have the opportunity to create jobs and reinvest in the communities this industry was designed to support. Today’s event demonstrates the broad consensus across the cannabis industry that protecting the integrity of New York’s legal market must remain a top priority.”
“Licensed retailers have invested heavily to follow the rules and build legitimate businesses in communities across New York,” said CRANY President Jeremy Rivera. “Consumers deserve confidence that the products they purchase are safe, tested, and coming from legal operators who are committed to compliance.”
“True market integrity requires aggressive enforcement against the illicit shadow market and all sources of product inversion, paired with transparent, uniform regulations built in collaboration with all stakeholders,” said NYCRA Director of Policy David Nicponski. “We look forward to working with the state to implement cost-effective market integrity solutions, compliance tracking, and regulations that protect legal operators without introducing unintended market consequences.”
“Market integrity and equity must go hand in hand,” said Ruben Lindo of BCIA. “Creating a fair marketplace means ensuring compliant operators, including minority-owned businesses, are not disadvantaged by illicit activity or regulatory loopholes.”
