Hemp regulations ‘probably’ up next for Cannabis Control Board

After addressing medical marijuana accessibility in its first two meetings, the state Cannabis Control Board will likely turn its attention next to outstanding hemp regulations, which were promulgated and never finalized by the state Department of Health.

“We don’t have the agenda set for the next meeting, but we are probably next going to move to the hemp regulations,” board member Jen Metzger told The Capitol Pressroom.

“At the same time we’re going to be … getting to work on the adult-use (marijuana regulations) as well, but I imagine hemp will be next,” she added.

The recent actions by the cannabis board come about six months after the adoption of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, with the delay largely attributed to a summer stalemate over personnel appointments between state lawmakers and then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

It’s not clear how this stalemate, which was resolved with Kathy Hochul’s ascension to governor, will impact the timeline for full implementation of the law, including licenses to grow marijuana and the establishment of a recreational marijuana marketplace.

“I think it was envisioned that the whole process would take 18 months. I think that that was kind of the thought when the law was passed,” Metzger said.

One of her big focuses, having served as chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee in 2019 and 2020, is for the cannabis board to adopt regulations in time for farmers to legally plant marijuana crops this spring.