OUR MISSION

 The Seeding Opportunity Initiative, announced by Governor Hochul, positions equity-entrepreneurs to be the first to make adult-use retail cannabis sales in New York with products grown by New York farmers. Under the Initiative, these initial equity-entrepreneur, retail owners must meet two prongs of eligibility to qualify. First, they must have a cannabis-related conviction 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-related conviction in the State of New York. Second, they must also have experience owning and operating a successful business in the State of New York. The Initiative has three components: the Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary License (CAURD), the Adult Use Conditional Cultivator License, and the Social Equity Cannabis Investment Program.

The Social Equity Cannabis Investment Program, which will help CAURD licensees meet the costs of establishing adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries. 

The program, which will be supported by up to $50 million in licensing fees and revenue from the adult-use cannabis industry and up to $150 million from the private sector, will provide funds that can be used to assist with:

• Identifying suitable locations for Dispensaries

• Acquiring or leasing the space for the Dispensaries

• Designing and constructing the space to suit business needs

• Fitting out locations with furniture and other equipment