Minority cannabis business owners to get leg up for May 20 N.Y. industry event

EDITOR’S NOTE: May 20th NJ Cannabis Insider in cooperation with Advance Media New York hosts a virtual business networking event with some of New York State’s best-known industry leaders. Tickets are limited.

Social justice – a factor that has become a central element in discussions about cannabis room access – will remain a complex challenge as a new industry seeks to incorporate the concept into their day-to-day operations.

Barriers to entry will be a huge issue for social justice applicants, said the co-founder of Harvest 360 David Serranowho owns and operates a Cannabis friendly farm in Shawangunk, New York.

“Applicants will need support from their community, and unfortunately, in the past, the people with the most money have received more attention and consideration,” he said.

NY Cannabis Insider Live has partnered with the upcoming half-day industry event on May 20th Harvest360 Assisting 50 qualified share applicants in providing free tickets to this special event and in individual consultations to improve their chances of success in the room. (To apply for the program, fill it out this form.)

The event presented by Hance constructionwill introduce the Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly Crystal Peoples Stokes, Cannabis Tsar for the City of Portland, Oregon and Founding Chairman of the Color coalition cannabis regulators Dasheeda Dawson, Help Abebe, President of New York Medical Cannabis Industry Association, Allan Gandelman, Founder and president of New York State Cannabis Growers and Processors Association, and more.

As New York builds its legal market, it is poised to become possibly one of the largest on the East Coast alongside its neighbor in Garden State, which is home to some of the most densely populated communities in America.

CONNECTED: The NY state legislature, who led responsibility for legalizing cannabis, spoke at a business conference. Login here.

Density also comes with competitive real estate requirements, cited as a barrier to entry into an industry where licensees, including those in New Jersey, were often forced to hold millions of properties before being allowed to pursue a license – a requirement that can lead to large companies dominating the market.

Serrano hopes New York will do something to address the dynamic.

“If the state requires property inspection before licensing, it will be a major obstacle. We hope New York will take a page from Illinois on the subject and urge the state not to include real estate as a requirement for microapplications, ”he said. “Another major obstacle for applicants is proof of funds. This is another area the state can support by simply not including proof of funds as a pre-licensing requirement. “

According to Serrano, licensees could have a year to secure cash and real estate after a viable plan is presented to improve the playing field for social justice applicants.

“This will put social equity license holders in a position of power and minimize government-sponsored exploitation of social equity applicants by landlords and financiers,” he said. “For now we have to wait and see. I urge everyone to take part in the open comment phase when the commission is formed and ask for this reflection. If we don’t activate and ask, they don’t give up. “

To apply for the scholarship program and free tickets, click Here. The application deadline is Saturday, May 15, at midnight. The winners will be announced on Monday.

Is hosting the half-day conference Advance Media New York, the company that publishes The Post Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com, in cooperation with NJ Cannabis Insider, a weekly online magazine and events group covering New Jersey and the Northeast.

Click here For more information on purchasing tickets.

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