New York Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bryant has ordered New York regulators not to award any more cannabis licenses pending a decision on an explosive lawsuit alleging officials favored convicted drug felons over disabled veterans to sell legal marijuana.
The decision on Monday by the Albany state Supreme Court Judge came after Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration was sued last week by four New Yorkers who served in the US Armed Forces.
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The lawsuit alleges regulators with the Office of Cannabis Management and state Cannabis Control Board failed to set up a legal cannabis market envisioned by New York’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), which specifically lists disabled vets as one of five priority “social and economic equity” groups to get at least 50% of employment opportunities in the budding pot industry.
A hearing on the case is scheduled for Friday.
Bryant said in the order, “Pending the hearing and determination of this application, defendants, their agents and employees are hereby restrained from awarding or further processing any more CAURD [Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary] licenses … pending further order of this court.”
New York’s first licenses went to “justice involved” individuals or partners of felons convicted of selling marijuana, the suit claims – convicted felons of marijuana-related crimes, service-disabled veterans, as well as women and minority-owned businesses and “distressed farmers.”
During the first go-round, disabled vets who partnered with someone with a marijuana conviction were awarded a license.
