Simon Malinowski, managing attorney of cannabis-focused law firm Harris Bricken’s New York office, wrote in a blog post that the language of the bill makes it clear lawmakers wanted to discourage anti-competitive behaviors.
“The legislature’s motivation for prohibiting vertical integration is woven into the language of the MRTA: to provide industry newcomers – especially social and economic equity applicants — a better chance to thrive, while also preventing monopolies,” he wrote.
Exceptions to the Rule
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Etain has paid $400,000 to lobbyists since 2013
- Columbia Care, of Monroe County, also spent about $400,000 on lobbying since 2013, documents show
- About $300,000 of Vireo Health's lobbying went to getting a license and regulatory decisions
- Citiva spent about $160,000 lobbying marijuana in New York between 2013 and 2018
Outside of this specific example, conflicts between advocates and industry interests are heating up. Legislatures across the country are seeing calls to go beyond simply legalizing a commercial cannabis market and also take steps to ensure that small businesses, people of color, women and others from communities disproportionately impacted by prohibition are not left in the dust as large companies take over the industry.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his plan to legalize adult use cannabis in 100 days. The governor did not provide a lot of details but suggested it would continue to be a restrictive program.
Of course, New Jersey also said it would legalize adult use cannabis but then found it has taken much longer to make adjustments to the rules and regulations of a conservative medical cannabis program. Cuomo did note that consumers would need to be over the age of 21 and he was very supportive of towns cities having the ability to opt out of allowing cannabis businesses.
A number of multistate operators are vying for the coveted six additional medical marijuana licenses in New Jersey’s rapidly growing MMJ industry, underscoring the increasing attraction of the Garden State market.
The New Jersey Department of Health has made the list of applicants available but said no further information would be released until the licenses are awarded Nov. 1. The state received 146 applications from 106 groups.