The New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) voted to adopt regulations that will allow adults 21 and older to cultivate up to six plants per person and 12 per household for personal use. Medical marijuana patients will also be able to grow their own medicine, with a limit of four mature plants and four immature plants per patient.
The CCB also approved regulations for new types of cannabis business licenses, such as microbusinesses, delivery services, on-site consumption lounges, and nurseries. These licenses are intended to create more opportunities for small businesses and social equity applicants, who will receive priority in the licensing process.
The CCB’s actions come after months of delays and challenges in implementing the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), which legalized recreational marijuana in New York in March 2021. The MRTA established the CCB and the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) as the regulatory bodies for the cannabis industry, but they were not fully appointed and staffed until late 2021.
The CCB and the OCM are still working on finalizing the rules and regulations for the adult-use cannabis market, which is expected to launch sometime in 2024. They are also overseeing the transition and expansion of the medical marijuana program, which was established in 2014 and has been criticized for being too restrictive and costly for patients and providers.
Some other sources that provide information on the current legality of marijuana in New York are:
- New York Marijuana Laws | PotGuide, which gives an overview of the possession, purchasing, and consumption limits for recreational and medical marijuana users, as well as the qualifying conditions and products for medical marijuana patients.
- Cannabis Law Overview | Office of Cannabis Management, which explains the goals and principles of the Cannabis Law, the roles and responsibilities of the CCB and the OCM, and the social and economic equity program for the cannabis industry.
- New York Marijuana Laws | NewYorkStateCannabis.org, which provides a summary of the history and timeline of marijuana legalization in New York, as well as the benefits and challenges of the MRTA.