ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--THE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS MARKET IS GROWING ACROSS THE EMPIRE STATE -- BUT SOME CANNABIS FARMERS SAid THEY AREN'T FEELING THE EFFECTS. 

THIS WEEK CANNABIS FARMERS AND ADVOCATES RALLY TO INCLUDE $300 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RELIEF TO STRUGGLING FARMERS.  

FOLLOWING THE RECREATIONAL MARKET’S LEGALIZATION IN 2021, THE roll-out FACED SOME DELAYS IN DISTRIBUTING LICENSES.  

SOME CANNABIS FARMERS SAid THESE DELAYS ARE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL STRAINS ON GROWERS – MANY OF WHOM AREN’T ABLE TO SELL ENOUGH PRODUCT. 

“Basically, we’re all operating at a loss. The rate that outlets will come won’t be fast enough for us to get the capital in that we need to continue in operations,” said Nic Fera, a cannabis farmer and a board member for the Cannabis Farmers Alliance. 

FERA SAid THE ONLY THING THAT WILL HELP FARMERS LIKE HIM IS RELIEF FUNDING.  

SOME LAWMAKERS SAid THEY PLAN TO FIGHT FOR FUNDING IN THE BUDGET TO PROVIDE THIS RELIEF.  

“Never was there a time more important than now to help these folks out if we expect them to be part of this industry going forward," said Assembly Member Donna Lupardo (D-Assembly District 123).

ANd FARMER'S AREN'T ALONE IN THEIR FRUSTRATION – GOV. KATHY HOCHUL SAid SHE HASN'T BEEN satisfied WITH THE PACE IN WHICH THE MARKET IS MOVING. 

“We’re looking at all kinds of ways we can help our farmers. They are really the collateral damage to partially—largely the lawsuits that stemmed our ability to move forward for almost a year,” said Hochul.