Q&A
Details on Cannabis NYC: Funding, staffing, and activities
0:41:10
·
3 min
Council Member Bottcher inquires about Cannabis NYC, an initiative launched in August 2022 under the Department of Small Business Services. Commissioner Kim provides details on the unit's funding, staffing, and activities.
- Cannabis NYC has a budget of $3,600,000 for fiscal year 2025
- The unit has a headcount of 5, including 4 staff members and an urban fellow
- Activities include education, outreach, and providing resources to cannabis entrepreneurs
Erik D. Bottcher
0:41:10
In August of 2022, cannabis NYC was launched, which is housed under your agency and initiative to support entrepreneurs and in employees as the industry develops and to make New York City a global leader in that industry.
0:41:30
What is the total funding for that unit, Cannabis NYC, within SBS?
0:41:37
What's the the headcount and and is that unit being affected by any spending reductions?
Kevin Kim
0:41:47
So the total budget, I'll get you in a second.
0:41:51
The headcount is 5 at the agency, but cannabis NYC, the reason why it made sense to put it at SBS is because we obviously don't do the licensing.
0:42:01
That's a state function.
0:42:03
And from the city's function, we are focused on education and outreach.
0:42:09
And so we have done tremendous amount of liftoff tours.
0:42:15
These are kickoffs where our founding director, Dasheeda Dawson, who By the way, brings expertise on a level that's rare in the country.
0:42:25
She had run Portland's program before coming here.
0:42:29
And her idea to do the liftoff campaigns going into communities most impacted by the war on drugs previously We had reached over 5000 New Yorkers explaining to them the opportunity, the economic opportunity here.
0:42:44
But at the same time, we partnered up with ACS administration, children services to make sure that lock boxes were handed out to families so that when there is more cannabis potentially in the house, you have lock boxes here to protect the children.
0:43:00
So we are focused on the education and outreach efforts.
0:43:04
At the same time, we are also advising the the sheriff's office, and the sheriff has a joint compliance task force team that is focused on making sure that enforcement happens to the extent that it can at the city level right now.
0:43:19
There are some limitations from the state law side of things, but we have about a $3,600,000 OTPS budget for fiscal year 25.
0:43:30
And we also We're able to use some of the money to create a fast track.
0:43:35
We call these we have fast track programs for all different business programs, but we made one specially for the cannabis industry where anybody who wants to into the industry can now go sign up sign up for a cohort to get educated for free on everything related to cannabis and the business of cannabis.
0:43:53
And we've had over 300 people sign up just in the past year.
Erik D. Bottcher
0:43:58
So the FY 25 budget is 3,600,000 and your and your headcount is gonna stay steady in that unit.
Kevin Kim
0:44:07
Yes.
0:44:07
So currently, we have 5.
0:44:09
We have 4 staff members plus an urban fellow, and we can we expect to keep an urban follow in this role.