Marijuana

New York Takes Steps Toward a Freer Cannabis Market

In a rare deregulatory win for the industry, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently killed a minimum wage board for cannabis workers.

Josh Pauzé | 11.2.2026 11:00 AM

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New York legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, yet the illicit market still dwarfs the legal one, thanks largely to heavy regulations. Lawmakers might finally be catching on to this problem.

Last week, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, rejected key provisions of Senate Bill 10643, which among other things aimed to raise the minimum wages for cannabis workers in the state.

The bill, which passed both chambers of the New York State Assembly in June, would create a three-member Cannabis Wage Board to classify cannabis workers based on their roles and recommend a minimum wage to the governor's office and legislature. Another section would make marijuana license applicants disclose their "full ownership structure," any management service agreements they've signed, and........

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