NY cannabis firms urge Gov. Hochul to block wage board, warn of price surge
Licensed marijuana businesses in New York are asking Governor Kathy Hochul to veto a bill that would create a state cannabis wage board, saying it would raise prices and force minority-owned shops to close.
New York’s licensed cannabis operators are lobbying Governor Kathy Hochul to reject legislation that would establish a state wage board for the legal marijuana sector. The board, composed of a union delegate, an industry representative and a Labor Department appointee, would set wage standards across cultivation, processing and retail. Critics, including the Safe Affordable Cannabis New York coalition, warn the move would inflate prices already high due to a 9% distributor fee and a combined 13% sales tax, pushing consumers back to the illicit market.
They also claim the policy would undermine the 2021 law’s social-equity provisions by jeopardizing businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and formerly convicted individuals. Union president Mario Cilento says the board aims to secure adequate wages and meet equity goals, while growers such as Joseph Calderone of Grateful Valley Farm argue the added costs are unsustainable. Activists will hand out stickers at the New York State Fair that link to a petition urging the governor to veto the bill.
Why it matters
The outcome will affect cannabis prices, minority business viability, and the balance of labor influence in New York’s emerging legal market.
In this story
