PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Toni Smith, New York State Director of Drug Policy Alliance, on Cannabis Market and Enforcement
2:50:01
·
137 sec
Toni Smith, representing the Drug Policy Alliance, testified on the successes of New York's cannabis market under the MRTA, emphasizing its commitment to social equity and small businesses. She cautioned against efforts to undermine these achievements and advocated for careful enforcement and market adjustments.
- Highlighted that 95% of NY's retail cannabis market is small business, with record-breaking minority ownership
- Stressed the need for non-criminalized enforcement and tailored market adjustments
- Suggested the establishment of a separate cannabis agency with commission-level leadership for better oversight and coordination
Toni Smith
2:50:01
Good afternoon.
2:50:03
Thank you, chairs and members of the council for the opportunity to testify.
2:50:06
My name is Tony Smith.
2:50:07
I'm the New York State Director at the Drug Policy Alliance, which led the work to pass the MRTA.
2:50:12
Establishing a pioneering framework for a fair and diverse cannabis industry in New York that intentionally did not follow the model most favorable to big business interests.
2:50:22
Over the past 2 years, we've seen a concerted effort by well funded lobbyists and large cannabis corporations threatened to undermine the law's social equity goals.
2:50:31
By pushing a narrative of disaster and dysfunction, which has come to a head this year, and framing the law as a failure, these entities are setting the groundwork to reshape the market to their advantage.
2:50:42
But since its inception, the M RTA has broken national records, and implementation of New York's cannabis market looks intentionally different than other states.
2:50:51
95% of our retail market is small business.
2:50:54
New York has doubled the number of majority black owned dispensaries nationwide.
2:50:59
Nearly half of adult use dispensaries are majority minority owned and roughly 90% of adult use retail licenses are minority and women owned businesses well above the national estimates.
2:51:10
These successes are the result of a commitment to swimming against the tide of racial capitalism.
2:51:15
As you address concerns with the market, it is critical to ensure enforcement steers clear of criminalization and that adjustments to the market remain tailored to specific issues and couched within the broader goals and successes of the MRTA.
2:51:29
We appreciate the council's attention to reporting systems that helped to capture a fuller picture of the market.
2:51:35
311 call logs were an important tool in addressing discriminatory policing before passage of the MRTA.
2:51:41
Now we can use 311 to monitor the cannabis market through a civil lens as we do other types of noncompliant businesses.
2:51:48
So as we gain a fuller picture of the market, we also need a more robust office to provide leadership coordination and oversight of the industry.
2:51:55
Including oversight of local cannabis tax revenue.
2:51:58
Today's hearing, I think, highlights the need for more centralized information and oversight.
2:52:03
While cannabis NYC is doing some of this work, we ask the council to explore the establishment of a separate cannabis agency with commission level leadership to break down silos and provide necessary support to accomplish these goals.
2:52:15
And we are going to follow-up with fuller written comments.
2:52:17
Thank you so much.
