The Governor announced the establishment of the “Seeding Opportunity Initiative,” which will prioritize individuals with prior cannabis-related criminal offenses to receive the first retail licenses issued by the state. The initiative establishes Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries which must be owned by individuals with a prior cannabis-related criminal offense. Applications for these priority licenses will open in the summer of 2022. The first licenses are expected to be distributed by late summer or early fall 2022. Under the proposed regulations, to be eligible for this initial license, applicants must:

• Have a cannabis-related offense 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 offense in the State of New York.
• Have experience owning and operating a qualifying business in the State of New York.

The Office of Cannabis Management Board also approved the application for the “Adult-Use Conditional Cultivator License” and set the opening of the application portal for March 15. The license was made possible by legislation recently signed by Governor Hochul on February 22. Further information on eligibility requirements and what’s allowed with the license can be found here.

• Farmers First Program: Provides a license to eligible New York cannabinoid hemp farmers, giving them the first chance to grow cannabis for New York’s adult-use market. Farmers must adhere to quality assurance, health, and safety requirements developed by the OCM.

Governor Hochul said:

Governor Announces Project Labor Agreement for Long Island Public Work Projects

The Governor announced that the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) will be developing a Project Labor Agreement in partnership with the Long Island construction labor unions that will be used on all large-scale projects DASNY undertakes on Long Island. These pre-hire collective bargaining agreements will establish the terms and conditions of employment for all projects DASNY undertakes on Long Island above a certain agreed-upon dollar threshold. The Governor also committed to appoint a representative of organized labor to the statewide Climate Action Council, tasked with implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The Governor said:

Governor Visits Rochester to Outline Area Economic Development Projects

The Governor made a visit to Rochester to outline $172.5 million in state investment for several projects in the Finger Lakes region funded by her Executive Budget proposal. The proposal would commit $100 million from the New York State Department of Transportation’s five-year capital plan toward the Inner Loop North project to complete the infill of the sunken highway.  An additional $42.5 million would be used to finish implementing visitor experience enhancements at the Seneca Park Zoo. An additional $10 million would be used to support needed upgrades to Frontier Field in Rochester.

Governor Hochul said:

SUNY Launches Chancellor Search

The State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees announced the hiring of an executive search firm to begin the process of finding a permanent chancellor. Former SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley has served in an interim capacity upon the resignation of Jim Malatras in January. SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Merryl H. Tisch and Vice Chairman Cesar Perales will co-chair the search committee, which will include multiple subcommittees made up of SUNY students, faculty representatives and other stakeholders.

In a joint statement, Tisch and Perales said: