S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6700
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 12, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. COONEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the cannabis law, in relation to regional cannabis
mentors
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 19-a to
read as follows:
§ 19-A. REGIONAL CANNABIS MENTORS. 1. THE OFFICE SHALL, WITHIN THIRTY
DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT
REGIONAL CANNABIS MENTORS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO PERSONS INQUIRING ABOUT,
OR PARTICIPATING IN, THE MEDICAL CANNABIS OR ADULT-USE CANNABIS INDUS-
TRIES. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH AT LEAST ONE SUCH REGIONAL CANNABIS
MENTOR WITHIN EACH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGION OF THE STATE, PURSUANT TO
SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW. SUCH SUPPORT
SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(A) PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO APPLICANTS FOR ANY LICENSE
AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER, INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH COMPLET-
ING APPLICATIONS;
(B) PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING MINORITY AND
WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, IN PARTICIPATING IN SUCH CANNABIS INDUSTRIES;
(C) PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO ANY MUNICIPALITY OR OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY ON THE EFFECTS OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER;
AND
(D) PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ADVICE TO ANY PERSON INQUIRING ABOUT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CHAPTER, INCLUDING ANY FUTURE STATUTORY AND REGU-
LATORY CHANGES TO THIS CHAPTER.
2. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN SUCH REGIONAL CANNABIS
MENTORS USING ANY EXISTING OR FUTURE APPROPRIATIONS TO THE OFFICE FOR
THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11176-01-1
S. 6700 2
3. EACH REGIONAL CANNABIS MENTOR SHALL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE BY ELECTRON-
IC AND TELEPHONIC MEANS. SUCH INFORMATION SHALL BE POSTED CONSPICUOUSLY
ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.