NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8951A

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 30, 2026	print number 8951a
Mar 30, 2026	amend and recommit to investigations and government operations
Jan 20, 2026	referred to investigations and government operations

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2025-S8951 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10698
Current Committee:: Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:: Cannabis Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§136 & 138-a, add §§125-a & 138-c, Cannabis L

2025-S8951 - Summary

Enacts the "cannabis supply chain integrity and anti-inversion act"; prohibits any act or omission involving illicit cannabis; provides penalties for such cannabis inversion; provides whistleblower protection for any employee or contractor who, in good faith, reported or attempted to report suspected prohibitions and restrictions to the office, the board or any law enforcement agency.

2025-S8951 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8951

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the cannabis law, in relation to prohibiting cannabis
inversion and establishing penalties and whistleblower protections

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the integrity of New York's regu-
lated cannabis market by explicitly prohibiting cannabis inversion.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Establish the title "cannabis supply chain integrity and
anti-inversion act".

Section 2: Provides the legislative findings and intent.

Section 3: Amends Section 136 of the cannabis law by expanding the defi-
nition of "illicit cannabis" to include inverted cannabis and cannabis

products, i.e. sourced from unlicensed entities or misrepresented as to
origin, cultivation site, manufacturing process, chain of custody, or
testing results.

Section 4: Adds new section 125a to the cannabis law defining "cannabis
inversion", prohibits the use of inverted cannabis, establishes enforce-
ment and penalties.

Section 5: Adds new section 140 to the cannabis law establishing whist-
leblower protections prohibiting retaliation against employees or
contractors who, in good faith, report suspected cannabis inversion to
regulators or law enforcement.

Section 6: Severability Clause

Section 7: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The success of New York's regulated cannabis market depends on transpar-
ency, traceability, and lawful sourcing. Cannabis inversion the intro-
duction of illicit or misrepresented cannabis into the legal supply
chain, poses a serious threat to consumer health and safety, undermines
public confidence in legalization, deprives the state of tax revenue,
and unfairly puts compliant licensees who adhere to the law at a disad-
vantage.

While New York has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for
cannabis, gaps remain that allow bad actors to exploit weaknesses in
testing, tracking, and accountability. This bill directly addresses
those gaps by clearly defining cannabis inversion, strengthening
enforcement authority, holding responsible individuals accountable, and
ensuring that laboratory testing facilities meet the highest standards
of integrity.

By deterring illicit conduct and protecting whistleblowers, this legis-
lation reinforces New York's commitment to a fair, transparent, and
well-regulated cannabis market that prioritizes public health, consumer
protection, and economic fairness.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

This bill will have an undetermined fiscal impact. Any enforcement costs
are expected to be absorbed within existing resources. There is the
possibility for civil penalties that may generate additional revenue.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day after it
becomes law.

2025-S8951 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8951
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 20, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COONEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the cannabis law, in relation  to  prohibiting  cannabis
   inversion and establishing penalties and whistleblower protections
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as  the  "cannabis
 supply chain integrity and anti-inversion act".
   §  2.  Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that the
 integrity of New York state's regulated cannabis market depends on tran-
 sparency, traceability, and  lawful  origin  of  cannabis  and  cannabis
 products  offered for sale to consumers in New York. The introduction of
 illicit cannabis into the regulated  supply  chain,  commonly  known  as
 "cannabis  inversion,"  threatens  consumer  health,  undermines  public
 confidence, deprives the state of tax revenue, and disadvantages compli-
 ant licensees. It is the intent of the legislature  to  define  cannabis
 inversion,  prohibit  such conduct, provide for meaningful penalties and
 license  consequences,  and  establish  accountability  for  responsible
 persons and laboratories.
   § 3. Section 136 of the cannabis law is amended to read as follows:
   §  136. Illicit cannabis. 1. "Illicit cannabis" means and includes (A)
 any cannabis flower, concentrated cannabis and cannabis product on which
 any tax required to have been paid under any applicable state  law,  has
 not  been paid. Illicit cannabis shall not include any cannabis lawfully
 possessed in accordance with this chapter or the penal law[.];
   (B) SOURCED CANNABIS OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS FROM AN UNLICENSED OR  UNAU-
 THORIZED PERSON OR ENTITY; OR
   (C)  MISREPRESENTED GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN, CULTIVATION SITE, MANUFACTURING
 PROCESS, OR CHAIN OF CUSTODY OF CANNABIS, CANNABIS PRODUCTS,  OR  CANNA-
 BIS-DERIVED MATERIALS.
   1-A. ANY PERSON WHO:
   (A)  UTILIZES  A  FRAUDULENT,  MISLEADING,  OR  MATERIALLY  UNRELIABLE
 CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14524-03-6
 S. 8951                             2
 
   (B) FALSIFIES OR  OMITS  REQUIRED  INVENTORY,  TESTING,  TRANSFER,  OR
 TRACKING RECORDS; OR
   (C)  KNOWINGLY  SELLS, TRANSFERS, OR OFFERS FOR SALE INVERTED CANNABIS
 PRODUCTS TO ANY REGISTRANT, LICENSEE, OR PERMITTEE.
   2. Any person holding a license, permit  or  registration  under  this
 chapter  who  shall  knowingly  possess or have under [his or her] THEIR
 control any cannabis known by the person to be illicit cannabis is guil-
 ty of a class B misdemeanor.
   3. Any person holding a license, permit or  registration  pursuant  to
 this  chapter  who  shall  knowingly  barter, exchange, give or sell, or
 offer to barter, exchange, give or sell any cannabis known by the person
 to be illicit cannabis is guilty of a misdemeanor.
   4. Any person holding a license, permit or  registration  pursuant  to
 this  chapter  who  shall  knowingly  possess or have under [his or her]
 THEIR control or transport any cannabis known by the person to be illic-
 it cannabis with intent to barter, exchange, give or sell such  cannabis
 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
   5.  Any  person  who, being the owner, lessee or occupant of any room,
 shed, tenement, booth, building, float, vessel or part thereof who know-
 ingly permits the same to  be  used  for  the  cultivation,  processing,
 distribution,  purchase,  sale,  warehousing  or  transportation  of any
 cannabis, in violation of a possession limit in the penal law, known  by
 the person to be illicit cannabis, is guilty of a violation.
   §  4.  The cannabis law is amended by adding new section 125-a to read
 as follows:
   § 125-A. CANNABIS INVERSION. "CANNABIS INVERSION"  MEANS  ANY  ACT  OR
 OMISSION INVOLVING ILLICIT CANNABIS.
   1.  (A)  NO  REGISTRANT,  LICENSEE,  PERMITTEE,  OR LABORATORY TESTING
 FACILITY, AND NO PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF ANY SUCH REGISTRANT,  LICEN-
 SEE, PERMITTEE, OR LABORATORY TESTING FACILITY, SHALL ENGAGE IN CANNABIS
 INVERSION.
   (B)  A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE CAUSE FOR DISCIPLINE
 PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF  THIS  ARTICLE  AND  ANY
 APPLICABLE REGULATIONS.
   2. (A) IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY, THE OFFICE MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL
 PENALTY  OF  NOT  LESS THAN THREE TIMES THE RETAIL VALUE OF THE INVERTED
 CANNABIS OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS INVOLVED IN THE VIOLATION, OR TWO  HUNDRED
 FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
   (B)  INVERTED CANNABIS OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS, AND ANY PROCEEDS DIRECTLY
 DERIVED  THEREFROM,  SHALL  BE  SUBJECT  TO  SEIZURE,  FORFEITURE,   AND
 DESTRUCTION  OR OTHER DISPOSITION AS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE IN ACCORD-
 ANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND REGULATION.
   (C) UPON REASONABLE GROUNDS  TO  BELIEVE  A  VIOLATION  OCCURRED,  THE
 OFFICE  MAY  ORDER  IMMEDIATE  SUSPENSION  PENDING INVESTIGATION. UPON A
 FINDING THAT CANNABIS INVERSION WAS COMMITTED KNOWINGLY  OR  RECKLESSLY,
 REVOCATION  SHALL BE PRESUMED TO BE THE APPROPRIATE SANCTION, SUBJECT TO
 ANY PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS APPLICABLE UNDER SECTION ONE HUNDRED  THIR-
 TY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (D) IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER SANCTION, SUBMISSION, USE, OR ISSUANCE OF
 A  FRAUDULENT OR MATERIALLY UNRELIABLE CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS IN FURTH-
 ERANCE OF CANNABIS INVERSION SHALL CONSTITUTE CAUSE FOR PERMANENT  REVO-
 CATION  OF  A  LABORATORY TESTING PERMIT AND A CIVIL PENALTY OF NOT LESS
 THAN THREE TIMES THE RETAIL VALUE OF THE INVERTED CANNABIS  INVOLVED  IN
 THE  VIOLATION,  OR  TWO  HUNDRED  FIFTY  THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICHEVER IS
 GREATER.
 S. 8951                             3
 
   3. (A) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "RESPONSIBLE  PERSON"  MEANS  ANY
 PRINCIPAL  OFFICER,  MANAGING  MEMBER, GENERAL PARTNER, OR OTHER NATURAL
 PERSON WHO EXERCISES OPERATIONAL CONTROL OR  MANAGERIAL  AUTHORITY  OVER
 THE RELEVANT LICENSED OR PERMITTED ACTIVITY.
   (B)  WHERE  THE  OFFICE FINDS THAT A RESPONSIBLE PERSON KNEW OR SHOULD
 HAVE KNOWN OF CANNABIS INVERSION AND FAILED TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS  TO
 PREVENT,  STOP,  OR  REPORT SUCH CONDUCT, SUCH RESPONSIBLE PERSON MAY BE
 HELD JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR CIVIL PENALTIES  IMPOSED  PURSUANT
 TO  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF THIS SECTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY LICENSE DISCI-
 PLINE IMPOSED ON THE ENTITY.
   § 5. The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 138-c to read
 as follows:
   § 138-C. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION; ANTI-RETALIATION. 1. NO REGISTRANT,
 LICENSEE, PERMITTEE, LABORATORY TESTING FACILITY, OR CONTRACTOR  THEREOF
 SHALL  DISCHARGE, THREATEN, PENALIZE, DISCIPLINE, OR OTHERWISE RETALIATE
 AGAINST ANY EMPLOYEE OR CONTRACTOR BECAUSE SUCH EMPLOYEE OR  CONTRACTOR,
 IN  GOOD  FAITH,  REPORTED OR ATTEMPTED TO REPORT SUSPECTED PROHIBITIONS
 AND RESTRICTIONS TO THE OFFICE, THE BOARD, OR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT  AGEN-
 CY.
   2.  RETALIATION IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE AN INDE-
 PENDENT VIOLATION SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE AND CIVIL PENALTIES PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION  ONE  HUNDRED  THIRTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE AND APPLICABLE REGU-
 LATIONS.
   § 6. Severability. If any clause,  sentence,  paragraph,  subdivision,
 section  or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent
 jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,  impair,  or
 invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
 to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part thereof
 directly  involved  in the controversy in which such judgment shall have
 been rendered.
   § 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.

co-Sponsors

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A10698
Current Committee:: Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:: Cannabis Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§136 & 138-a, add §§125-a & 138-c, Cannabis L

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8951A

SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the cannabis law, in relation to prohibiting cannabis
inversion and establishing penalties and whistleblower protections

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to protect the integrity of New York's regu-
lated cannabis market by explicitly prohibiting cannabis inversion.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Establish the title "cannabis supply chain integrity and
anti-inversion act". Section 2: Provides the legislative findings and
intent.

Section 3: Amends Section 136 of the cannabis law by expanding the defi-
nition of "illicit cannabis" to include inverted cannabis and cannabis
products, i.e. sourced from unlicensed entities or misrepresented as to

origin, cultivation site, manufacturing process, chain of custody, or
testing results.

Section 4: Adds new section 125a to the cannabis law defining "cannabis
inversion", prohibits the use of inverted cannabis, establishes enforce-
ment and penalties.

Section 5: Adds new section 140 to the cannabis law establishing whist-
leblower protections prohibiting retaliation against employees or
contractors who, in good faith, report suspected cannabis inversion to
regulators or law enforcement.

Section 6: Severability Clause

Section 7: Establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The success of New York's regulated cannabis market depends on transpar-
ency, traceability, and lawful sourcing. Cannabis inversion the intro-
duction of illicit or misrepresented cannabis into the legal supply
chain, poses a serious threat to consumer health and safety, undermines
public confidence in legalization, deprives the state of tax revenue,
and unfairly puts compliant licensees who adhere to the law at a disad-
vantage.

While New York has established a comprehensive regulatory framework for
cannabis, gaps remain that allow bad actors to exploit weaknesses in
testing, tracking, and accountability. This bill directly addresses
those gaps by clearly defining cannabis inversion, strengthening
enforcement authority, holding responsible individuals accountable, and
ensuring that laboratory testing facilities meet the highest standards
of integrity.

By deterring illicit conduct and protecting whistleblowers, this legis-
lation reinforces New York's commitment to a fair, transparent, and

well-regulated cannabis market that prioritizes public health, consumer
protection, and economic fairness.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

This bill will have an undetermined fiscal impact. Any enforcement costs
are expected to be absorbed within existing resources. There is the
possibility for civil penalties that may generate additional revenue.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day after it
becomes law.

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8951--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 20, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. COONEY, FERNANDEZ, HINCHEY, RAMOS, ROLISON -- read
   twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
   Committee  on  Investigations  and  Government Operations -- committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the cannabis law, in relation  to  prohibiting  cannabis
   inversion and establishing penalties and whistleblower protections
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as  the  "cannabis
 supply chain integrity and anti-inversion act".
   §  2.  Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that the
 integrity of New York state's regulated cannabis market depends on tran-
 sparency, traceability, and  lawful  origin  of  cannabis  and  cannabis
 products  offered for sale to consumers in New York. The introduction of
 illicit cannabis into the regulated  supply  chain,  commonly  known  as
 "cannabis  inversion,"  threatens  consumer  health,  undermines  public
 confidence, deprives the state of tax revenue, and disadvantages compli-
 ant licensees. It is the intent of the legislature  to  define  cannabis
 inversion,  prohibit  such conduct, provide for meaningful penalties and
 license  consequences,  and  establish  accountability  for  responsible
 persons and laboratories.
   §  3.   Subdivision 1 of section 136 of the cannabis law is amended to
 read as follows:
   1. "Illicit cannabis" means and  includes  (A)  any  cannabis  flower,
 concentrated  cannabis and cannabis product on which any tax required to
 have been paid under any applicable state law, has not been paid. Illic-
 it cannabis shall not include any cannabis lawfully possessed in accord-
 ance with this chapter or the penal law[.];
   (B) SOURCED CANNABIS OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS FROM AN UNLICENSED OR  UNAU-
 THORIZED PERSON OR ENTITY; OR
   (C)  MISREPRESENTED  GEOGRAPHIC  ORIGIN, CULTIVATION SITE, OR CHAIN OF
 CUSTODY OF CANNABIS, CANNABIS PRODUCTS, OR CANNABIS-DERIVED MATERIALS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14524-06-6

 S. 8951--A                          2
 
   § 4. The cannabis law is amended by adding new section 125-a  to  read
 as follows:
   §  125-A.  CANNABIS  INVERSION.  "CANNABIS INVERSION" MEANS ANY ACT OR
 OMISSION INVOLVING ILLICIT CANNABIS.
   1. (A) NO  REGISTRANT,  LICENSEE,  PERMITTEE,  OR  LABORATORY  TESTING
 FACILITY,  AND NO PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF ANY SUCH REGISTRANT, LICEN-
 SEE, PERMITTEE, OR LABORATORY TESTING FACILITY, SHALL ENGAGE IN CANNABIS
 INVERSION.
   (B) A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE CAUSE FOR  DISCIPLINE
 PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  ONE  HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE AND ANY
 APPLICABLE REGULATIONS.
   2. (A) IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY, THE OFFICE MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL
 PENALTY OF NOT LESS THAN THREE TIMES THE RETAIL VALUE  OF  THE  INVERTED
 CANNABIS  OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS INVOLVED IN THE VIOLATION, OR TWO HUNDRED
 FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.
   (B) INVERTED CANNABIS OR CANNABIS PRODUCTS, AND ANY PROCEEDS  DIRECTLY
 DERIVED   THEREFROM,  SHALL  BE  SUBJECT  TO  SEIZURE,  FORFEITURE,  AND
 DESTRUCTION OR OTHER DISPOSITION AS DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE IN  ACCORD-
 ANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND REGULATION.
   (C)  UPON  REASONABLE  GROUNDS  TO  BELIEVE  A VIOLATION OCCURRED, THE
 OFFICE MAY ORDER IMMEDIATE  SUSPENSION  PENDING  INVESTIGATION.  UPON  A
 FINDING  THAT  CANNABIS INVERSION WAS COMMITTED KNOWINGLY OR RECKLESSLY,
 REVOCATION SHALL BE PRESUMED TO BE THE APPROPRIATE SANCTION, SUBJECT  TO
 ANY  PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS APPLICABLE UNDER SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIR-
 TY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (D) IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER SANCTION, SUBMISSION, USE, OR ISSUANCE OF
 A FRAUDULENT OR MATERIALLY UNRELIABLE CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS IN  FURTH-
 ERANCE  OF CANNABIS INVERSION SHALL CONSTITUTE CAUSE FOR PERMANENT REVO-
 CATION OF A LABORATORY TESTING PERMIT AND A CIVIL PENALTY  OF  NOT  LESS
 THAN  THREE  TIMES THE RETAIL VALUE OF THE INVERTED CANNABIS INVOLVED IN
 THE VIOLATION, OR TWO  HUNDRED  FIFTY  THOUSAND  DOLLARS,  WHICHEVER  IS
 GREATER.
   (E)  IT  SHALL  CONSTITUTE  A  VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IF ANY PERSON
 LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION:
   (I)  UTILIZES  A  FRAUDULENT,  MISLEADING,  OR  MATERIALLY  UNRELIABLE
 CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS;
   (II)  FALSIFIES  OR  OMITS  REQUIRED  INVENTORY, TESTING, TRANSFER, OR
 TRACKING RECORDS;
   (III) SELLS, TRANSFERS, OR OFFERS FOR SALE INVERTED CANNABIS  PRODUCTS
 TO ANY REGISTRANT, LICENSEE, OR PERMITTEE; OR
   (IV)  SELLS,  TRANSFERS,  OR OFFERS FOR SALE ANY PRODUCTS THAT VIOLATE
 THE OFFICE'S REGULATIONS ON HEMP PRODUCTS SHALL HAVE THE BURDEN OF PROV-
 ING THAT THEY HAVE NOT KNOWINGLY ENGAGED IN INVERSION.
   (F) FOR PURPOSES OF SUBDIVISION (E) OF THIS SECTION, THE OFFICE  SHALL
 PRESUME  THAT  ANY  CANNABIS,  CANNABIS  DERIVATIVE,  CANNABIS PLANT, OR
 CANNABIS PRODUCT WHERE THE COMPLETE CHAIN OF CUSTODY  CANNOT  BE  DEMON-
 STRATED  IS  ILLICIT  CANNABIS.  WHERE  ELECTRONIC INVENTORY RECORDS ARE
 MISSING OR INADEQUATE TO DEMONSTRATE THE COMPLETE CHAIN  OF  CUSTODY,  A
 LICENSEE  SHALL HAVE THE BURDEN OF PROOF AND MAY PRESENT VIDEO OR PHOTO-
 GRAPHIC EVIDENCE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE OFFICE TO OVERCOME THE PRESUMP-
 TION THAT SUCH PRODUCT IS ILLICIT CANNABIS.
   3. (A) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "RESPONSIBLE  PERSON"  MEANS  ANY
 PRINCIPAL  OFFICER,  MANAGING  MEMBER, GENERAL PARTNER, OR OTHER NATURAL
 PERSON WHO EXERCISES OPERATIONAL CONTROL OR  MANAGERIAL  AUTHORITY  OVER
 THE RELEVANT LICENSED OR PERMITTED ACTIVITY.
 S. 8951--A                          3
 
   (B)  WHERE  THE  OFFICE FINDS THAT A RESPONSIBLE PERSON KNEW OR SHOULD
 HAVE KNOWN OF CANNABIS INVERSION AND FAILED TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS  TO
 PREVENT,  STOP,  OR  REPORT SUCH CONDUCT, SUCH RESPONSIBLE PERSON MAY BE
 HELD JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR CIVIL PENALTIES  IMPOSED  PURSUANT
 TO  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF THIS SECTION, IN ADDITION TO ANY LICENSE DISCI-
 PLINE IMPOSED ON THE ENTITY.
   § 5. Subdivision 1 of section 138-a of the cannabis law, as  added  by
 section  20  of part UU of chapter 56 of the laws of 2023, is amended to
 read as follows:
   1.  order  any  person  who  is  unlawfully  cultivating,  processing,
 distributing  or selling cannabis, cannabis product, cannabinoid hemp or
 hemp extract product, or any product marketed or labeled as such in this
 state without obtaining the appropriate registration, license, or permit
 therefor, or engaging in CANNABIS INVERSION OR  IN  an  indirect  retail
 sale to cease such prohibited conduct;
   § 6. The cannabis law is amended by adding a new section 138-c to read
 as follows:
   § 138-C. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION; ANTI-RETALIATION. 1. NO REGISTRANT,
 LICENSEE,  PERMITTEE, LABORATORY TESTING FACILITY, OR CONTRACTOR THEREOF
 SHALL DISCHARGE, THREATEN, PENALIZE, DISCIPLINE, OR OTHERWISE  RETALIATE
 AGAINST  ANY EMPLOYEE OR CONTRACTOR BECAUSE SUCH EMPLOYEE OR CONTRACTOR,
 IN GOOD FAITH, REPORTED OR ATTEMPTED TO  REPORT  SUSPECTED  PROHIBITIONS
 AND  RESTRICTIONS TO THE OFFICE, THE BOARD, OR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN-
 CY.
   2. RETALIATION IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL CONSTITUTE AN  INDE-
 PENDENT  VIOLATION SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE AND CIVIL PENALTIES PURSUANT TO
 SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE  AND  APPLICABLE  REGU-
 LATIONS.
   §  7.  Severability.  If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
 section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of  competent
 jurisdiction  to  be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or
 invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
 to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part thereof
 directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment  shall  have
 been rendered.
   § 8. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S8951A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Actions

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2025-S8951 - Details

2025-S8951 - Summary

2025-S8951 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8951 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

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Senate Bill S8951A

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

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2025-S8951 - Details

2025-S8951 - Summary

2025-S8951 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8951 - Bill Text download pdf

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2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8951A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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