Workplace of Hashish Administration testified in entrance of The New York State Subcommittee on hashish at their first-ever public listening to. From left: Patrick McKeage, First Deputy Director; Chris Alexander, Government Director; Damian Fagon, Chief Fairness Officer.
Picture courtesy Workplace of Hashish Administration
Chris Alexander, government director of the New York State Workplace of Hashish Administration (OCM), on Oct. 31 testified in entrance of the New York State Senate Subcommittee on Hashish at their first-ever public listening to to ship updates on ongoing priorities and considerations.
Through the listening to Alexander and OCM employees supplied insights into the state’s budding authorized hashish trade, and highlighted a number of key subjects that demonstrated the New York State’s dedication to constructing a good, inclusive and profitable hashish market.
Alexander was joined by Dan Haughney, OCM’s director of enforcement; Damian Fagon, OCM’s chief fairness workplace; Patrick McKeage, OCM’s first deputy director; and Linda Baldwin, OCM’s common counsel.
“Immediately, we now have 27 operational retail companies throughout the state. These enterprise are carrying a median of 300 distinctive hashish merchandise throughout a wide range of product varieties together with flower merchandise, drinks, edibles, and tinctures. New York’s shoppers have strongly supported the authorized hashish companies of their communities,” Alexander advised the listening to.
“It’s seemingly that by the top of the 12 months, New York will boast heavy illustration among the many prime performing dispensaries within the nation,” he added. “It is a byproduct of sturdy client demand, however it’s also indicative of the willingness of New Yorkers to assist the broader mission that New York hashish has dedicated itself to.
“Whereas we see clearly what New York hashish might be, we nonetheless have a protracted approach to go earlier than we will declare that the availability chain is functioning as meant,” Alexander continued. “Our small farmers, as you already know and as I’ve already acknowledged, are struggling. We want extra retail cabinets for his or her product, and we’re working to make {that a} actuality. However we’re additionally dedicated to studying from this second and offering extra stability to an already unstable trade. That’s the reason we intend to work to increase our profitable Growers Showcases and assist farmers hardest hit by the gradual rollout of retail shops.”
Alexander mentioned hashish farmers are additionally being transitioned at the moment to both micro or blended gentle licenses, permitting them to have extra develop cycles and entry to the retail enterprise, ought to they select to pursue the micro licenses.
He mentioned OCM might be launching the distressed farmer transition program within the coming weeks to assist small farmers as they increase their companies.
“Fairness is the muse of this market and assist applications just like the distressed farmer transition program are essential to making sure the success of these numerous operators we hope will succeed right here,” Alexander testified, stating that, since legalization, New Yorkers have needed to take care of a proliferation of unlawful hashish companies.
“Our story will not be distinctive, however our drawback is expansive,” he mentioned. “These companies are usually not promoting product grown by our small farmers, they aren’t run by fairness entrepreneurs, and they aren’t contributing to the betterment of the communities by which they function.”
Alexander mentioned the OCM Enforcement Staff has prioritized working to close down these unlawful companies and has now performed investigations in each area of the state.
During the last a number of months, he mentioned OCM has performed virtually 300 regulatory inspections and seized near 10,000 kilos of illicit hashish with an approximate worth of $50 million.
However Alexnder mentioned these numbers are “solely a small phase of the enforcement exercise” that his staff has engaged in “as a result of they don’t rely the work that has been accomplished educating and empowering native governments and legislation enforcement entities to behave as a drive multiplier on this effort.”
In current weeks, the manager director mentioned OCM has “leaned into” the schooling effort and have labored to increase the coalition of entities working to drive these illicit operations out of enterprise, together with broader collaboration with the Division of Labor and the true property neighborhood.
“We’re grateful for the extra powers that the Legislature and the governor supplied OCM to increase our means to implement the Hashish Legislation earlier this 12 months,” he mentioned. “Now we have developed rules to manipulate our administrative hearings by which fines are sought and levied in opposition to unlicensed hashish companies, and continued to effective tune the executive listening to course of over the previous couple of months to cut back inefficiencies and improve efficacy which has confirmed to be difficult.”
Within the subsequent discussions, OCM highlighted a “deep and unwavering dedication” to figuring out and curbing unlawful, unlicensed operations within the state.
Alexander and Haughney supplied an in depth overview of the proactive measures and techniques being employed to detect and shut down these unlawful entities, guaranteeing the protection of shoppers and the integrity of the legalized market.
Alexander careworn the significance of stringent enforcement not just for public security but additionally to guard reliable companies from unfair competitors.
He spoke of collaborations with native legislation enforcement and the necessity for steady vigilance to maintain the trade regulated and clear.
