Approved Home-Grow Regs, New Growers and Processors Approved by Cannabis Control Board
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New York’s Cannabis Control Board on Tuesday adopted regulations for medical marijuana home growing, appointed a deputy counsel to the Office of Cannabis Management and approved conditional licenses for 19 cultivators and 10 processors.
Members of the CCB and the audience applauded when the board approved medical home-grow regulations, which allow medical cannabis patients to grow up to six plants, and for caregivers – who can grow for a maximum of four patients – up to 12 plants. Regulations also say landlords may not refuse to lease to patients, or penalize them for legally growing weed.
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The revised regulations come after a public comment period, during which OCM amended parts of the medical home-grow regulations based on feedback they received.
“Thank you again for the public comments that we received … [and] our staff here at OCM, who researched and made sure we were really putting forward well-researched thoughtful regulations,” said CCB Chair Tremaine Wright. “Everyone’s participation really made a difference.”
During the public comment period, advocates said the revised medical home-grow regulations were a step forward, and appreciated that OCM appeared to make amendments and revisions based on public comment. However, some thought the limits on plants were too small, and worried about the fact that OCM’s rules offer no solution to the fact that Section 8 residents still cannot grow at home, since Section 8 is a federal program.
CCB also approved amendments to the state’s cannabinoid hemp program. New rules create a new license type that allow approved hemp farmers to sell hemp flower they grow, and raise the maximum cannabinoid allowance per serving to 100 milligrams (from 75 milligrams previously), in addition to other changes.
Board members unanimously appointed Patricia Heer to the position of first deputy general counsel for the OCM. Before the appointment on Tuesday, Heer served as the OCM’s deputy general counsel, OCM Executive Director Chris Alexander said. Heer previously founded a legal digest that covered court decisions related to cannabis, and worked at New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance.
The OCM’s high position was recently left vacant after Rick Zahnleuter abruptly left the agency in July.
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