Contact: Jasmine Higgins
ALBANY, NY – Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan is pleased to announce the City of Albany Cannabis Committee will host a Kick-Off Meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the large auditorium at the Washington Avenue Branch of the Albany Public Library located at 161 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210.
The Kick-Off Meeting will serve as an informational opportunity to formally introduce the City Cannabis Advisory Board, review state vs. local pre-emption, discuss local preparation for the launch of the New York State Conditional Adult-Use Recreational Dispensary License (CAURD), and a cursory review of the City of Albany Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO) and its impacts on the current and future operation of cannabis dispensaries and consumption facilities in the City. The Kick-Off Meeting is open to the public. Future meeting dates, times, and locations will be announced in the coming weeks.
Background:
The Cannabis Advisory Board will help to solicit feedback, shape, and inform cannabis regulations at the municipal level, including the time, place, and manner of adult-use retail dispensaries and on-site consumption licenses, social equity, public education, and protection of community health and safety.
The City of Albany Cannabis Advisory Committee is comprised of 16 community members, representatives from the Albany Fire Department, the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance, the Department of Planning and Development, the Office of the City Clerk, Corporation Counsel’s Office, the Department of General Services, the Department of Recreation, Youth and Workforce Services and the Albany Police Department as well as Albany Common Councilmembers Balarin, Love, Romero, and Adams, and Albany County Legislator Carolyn McLaughlin.
The City of Albany Cannabis Advisory Community Committee Members include:
- Robert A. Anderson III
- Saladin Amir
- Susan Appe
- Lydia Brassard
- Nik Eames
- Mildred Figueroa-Zabawski
- Tabora Marcus
- Judith Morgan-Harris
- Quinn Lee
- Lee Kindlon
- Raziq Seabrook
- John McGuire
- Maelisa Rivera
- Dr. Robert Wishnoff
- Kaciem Swain
- William Tragedy Yager
Effective as of March 31, 2021, individuals 21 or older can possess, display, purchase, obtain or transport up to three ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis. Individuals can also transfer, without compensation, to another person 21 or older up to three ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrate.
Individuals interested in learning where smoking and vaping cannabis is currently permitted and where cannabis dispensaries and consumption sites are permitted can click here to view the interactive City of Albany Cannabis Consumption map.
Individuals interested in operating a cannabis dispensary, consumption site, or cultivation facility must first acquire the appropriate license through the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (NYSOCM) and the appropriate City permits. The information displayed in the interactive City of Albany Cannabis Consumption map is based on the existing Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO).
To read the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) please click here.
To read the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (NYSOCM) Local Government Fact Sheet please click here.
Questions regarding the advisory committee or local cannabis in the City of Albany should be directed to localmarijuana@albanyny.gov.
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