Crystal Peoples-Stokes

Since the approval of the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act in 2021, New York’s journey towards a flourishing legal cannabis market has been fraught with challenges. Regulatory hurdles and a thriving illicit market have hindered the growth expected by industry stakeholders and...

Do Medicaid and Medicare cover medical marijuana? The short answer is no, even though one in five Medicare recipients are users of medical cannabis, according to last year's poll by the Medicare Plans Patient Resource Center. In that Medicare and Medicaid are federal health...

New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) announced on Thursday that he introduced a bill calling for the removal of taxes on medical marijuana, especially in view of the fact that insurance does not cover it and people need it.  "Studies show medical cannabis relieves pain...

The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) reported that marijuana regulators in the city have put more than 50 unlicensed marijuana retailers on notice, accused of illegally selling cannabis. Additionally, OCM said that unlicensed marijuana businesses are claiming to be legal cannabis...

New York Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D) from NYC is launching an equity-focused political action committee (PAC), an organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for ballot initiatives, that will place a strong focus on...

New York governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill that would give provisional cannabis growing and processing licenses to hemp businesses that are currently engaged in promoting equity in the industry, reported Marijuana Moment. The news comes about a week after the Senate approved...

On Saturday, February 19, New York's state Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes will officially launch EquityPAC, a new political action committee to support legislation and progressive candidates committed to fostering equity around three key pillars: cannabis, education ...

The New York Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would provide provisional marijuana cultivator and processor licenses to existing hemp businesses that take specific steps to promote equity in the emerging industry, Marijuana Moment reported. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Michelle Hinchey (D), was...

A few days ago, the Cannabis Education Advocacy Symposium & Expo (CEASE) and the Cannabis Health Equity Movement (CHEM) hosted a Weedmaps-sponsored virtual conference designed to help legacy operators (previously operating in the illicit market) transition into the legal cannabis market. New...