ALBANY, N.Y. (WENY) – The New York State Cannabis Control Board approved 58 Adult-use Cannabis Conditional Cultivator Licenses, adding to the 88 licenses that were approved at previous board meetings.

The licenses continue to advance the Seeding Opportunity Initiative which was established by Governor Kathy Hochul back in March.

“New York is building the most inclusive cannabis industry in the country and including small farmers with an expertise is an essential component in accomplishing that goal,” said Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander. “The growing season isn’t waiting for anyone and I’m grateful for the hard work of the CCB and my colleagues at OCM to ensure these licenses are being reviewed as quickly as possible so New York’s farmers can take full advantage of the growing season and cultivate the products that our equity entrepreneurs will be the first to sell when they open their dispensaries this year.”

Licenses are granted exclusively to qualifying New York-based farms that have already grown cannabinoid hemp in the state.

Under the Initiative, these initial equity-entrepreneur, retail owners must meet two prongs of eligibility to qualify. First, they must have a cannabis-related conviction that occurred prior to the passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Tax Act (MRTA) on March 31, 2021, or had a parent, guardian, child, spouse, or dependent with a pre-MRTA cannabis-related conviction in the State of New York.

Second, they must also have experience owning and operating a successful business in the State of New York. The deadline to submit applications is June 30th.