MJBizMag October 2022 - 30

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS State by State
New York
The state approved the first 15 conditional recreational cannabis processor licenses, which will allow
companies to start making infused products such as vapes, oils and edibles and add variety to the
products that retailers can offer.
The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) also approved an additional 19 conditional
adult-use grower licenses, meaning 242 recreational cultivation permits have been granted so far.
In addition, New York regulators set a cap of 150 for the number of conditional marijuana retail
permits for the first round of adult-use business licensing, with those impacted by the war on drugs
getting priority for the permits.
According to the OCM, 90 of the state's first 150 retail licenses are expected to go to New York City
boroughs, with the Hudson Valley receiving 17 conditional licenses.
Oregon
Law enforcement in southern Oregon seized 10,000 pounds of illicit-market cannabis on Aug. 2 as part
of broader efforts to crack down on illegal growers in that part of the state.
The raid in Josephine County yielded 12,000-plus marijuana plants, more than 10,000 pounds of
processed marijuana, multiple firearms and more than $400,000 in cash.
The state has stepped up efforts in the past few years to combat unlicensed marijuana growers.
Vermont
The application window opened for all types of recreational marijuana businesses, including retailers,
growers, manufacturers and testing labs.
So far, more than 200 companies have been prequalified for some sort of license, and about 50 of
those are retailers.
Recreational marijuana sales are slated to begin in Vermont on Oct. 1.
Virginia
Cannabis multistate operators in Virginia are focused on building out their medical marijuana facilities
while they wait to see whether the commonwealth's adult-use program actually launches in 2024 as
planned.
Representatives from Florida-based Jushi Holdings and New York-headquartered Columbia
Care-which have MMJ licenses in Virginia-say they're focused on opening their six total dispensaries
allowed under state law.
Perhaps the biggest development in Virginia so far this year, however, is what didn't happen-the
requisite approval of two bills that would have cleared the way for the state's recreational marijuana
market. The two bills, House Bill 430 and Senate Bill 391, were shelved by Republican leaders in the
House of Delegates, said JM Pedini of Virginia NORML.
Wisconsin
State Sen. Melissa Agard of Madison introduced a bill to legalize adult-use marijuana in the Wisconsin
Legislature.
The measure would tax marijuana at similar rates as alcohol and allow for home cultivation by
consumers.
Agard, who has run similar bills seven times in the past, told reporters the move would bring in an
additional $165 million a year or more in tax revenues for Wisconsin.
Both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature are controlled by Republicans, so it's likely the bill will
face an uphill battle. However, Agard has an ally in Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who proposed legalizing
recreational cannabis in his first draft of a state budget in February.
Note: Entries sourced from MJBizDaily and other international, national and local news outlets. These developments
occurred before this magazine's publication deadline, so some situations might have changed.
30 October 2022 | MJBizMagazine

MJBizMag October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MJBizMag October 2022