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NYC Mayoral Candidates Reveal Whether They’ve Purchased Marijuana From Licensed Shops During Contentious Debate
New York City’s three major mayoral candidates got something of a curveball question during an otherwise contentious debate on Thursday, with each of the contenders asked whether they’ve “ever purchased anything in a cannabis shop.”
Democratic mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa affirmed that they have bought marijuana at licensed shops.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary earlier this year, however, answered with a flat “no,” despite signing legalization into law in 2021 before resigning amid unrelated controversy later that year.
“I have purchased marijuana at a legal cannabis shop,” Mamdani said at the NBC 4 debate, laughing.
Sliwa, the GOP mayoral candidate, answered the cannabis question by stating that he “did use medical marijuana” after being “shot five times” in a 1992 incident and also to treat symptoms of Crohn’s disease
Neither Mamdani nor Sliwa responded to the part of the moderator’s question about what specific types of products they purchased.
Mamdani voted for legalization as a member of the state Assembly.
“I’m proud to be here today to debate the adult use of marijuana—also known as loud, Sour D, herb, Mary Jane, kush, green, pot, weed, zaza, a jazz cigarette and marijuana,” he said on the floor ahead of the vote. “In the course of this debate I’ve heard many of our colleagues from across the aisle discuss that smoking or ingesting marijuana is an indication of lawlessness and a deteriorating quality of life, makes one lazy and a burden to society, serves as a gateway drug.”
“And amidst this fiction and frankly coded language I’d also like to present a fact, which is that smoking or ingesting marijuana may also lead to you becoming an elected official,” he said. “I’m very excited to be voting for this bill today.”
Cuomo, for his part, described legalization as a “priority” leading up the passage of the adult-use bill, though there were disagreements along the way between the then-governor’s office and the legislature about what the regulatory framework should look like.
Some advocates took issue with provisions in Cuomo’s legalization plan related to equity and regulatory control, as well as a continued prohibition on home cultivation. The proposal also lacked license categories for delivery services and on-site consumption.
Of course, with marijuana already legal in New York, the brief responses to the question didn’t reveal much in the way of any future cannabis policy action any of the candidates might take if elected.
New York officials last month touted a marijuana milestone, with the state exceeding $2 billion in cannabis sales since the market launched. And $1 billion of those purchases have been made in 2025 alone.
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Meanwhile, given confusion within the marketplace about timelines for provisional licenses, the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) recently said it will be extending the renewal deadline for conditional adult-use until December 31, 2026.
“This extension provides licensees additional time to secure viable locations and move toward full licensure,” OCM said. “It will also apply to any provisional licenses issued between September 9, 2025, and December 30, 2025, ensuring clarity and consistency for all provisional license holders.”
Part of the uncertainty surrounding provisional licensees concerns a recently identified zoning issue impacting more than 100 cannabis businesses that are apparently located too close to public schools or places of worship than is allowed under current statute. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has said that she will be pushing the legislature to amend the state’s marijuana law to address the issue.
In July, meanwhile, New York officials announced the first round of grants under a $5 million program to help retail marijuana businesses owned by justice-involved people cover startup costs.
About three months after opening up applications for the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) Grant Program, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and Empire State Development (ESD) announced in March that they awarded 52 licensed dispensaries up to $30,000 each in funds meant for startup and operational costs such as rent, renovations, inventory tracking and security systems.
To qualify for the program, applicants need to have been “justice involved”—in other words, impacted by a marijuana-related conviction—and have some experience running a profitable business.
OCM also recently launched a new online map that’s meant to help adults locate licensed marijuana retailers—one of their latest efforts to encourage consumers to buy their cannabis from the regulated market.
After a rocky rollout of the state’s legalization law opened the door to a proliferation of illicit marijuana shops, the governor and regulators have prioritized educating the public about the need to purchase their products from licensed dispensaries as a health and safety imperative.
The broader New York campaign has also involved digital ads and educational resources, including a guide on safe consumption practices, as well as graphics and videos featuring licensed cannabis business owners and messaging about the benefits of participating in the regulated market.
OCM also advises that “continued enforcement against the illicit market is critical to building a health regulated market,” pointing to what it describes as successful enforcement efforts in 2024. Last spring, for example, officials in New York City launched Operation Padlock, an enforcement initiative meant to shutter illegal storefronts. Within months, licensed shops that were open before the operation began saw sales climb 105 percent, according to an OCM survey.
Regulators are also moving forward with new proposed regulations around the state’s so-called “cannabis showcase” program, which allows licensed businesses to sell to consumers at pop-up, farmers market-like events.
As originally authorized, the showcase events were largely in response to the slow rollout of New York’s adult-use marijuana program, which faced multiple delays in implementation amid litigation and other matters.
Separately Hochul signed state budget legislation that did not include a controversial earlier provision that would have allowed police to use the smell of marijuana as probable cause that a driver is impaired and then force them to take a drug test.
Amendments made in the legislature removed the provision, which a coalition of 60 reform groups had argued in a letter to Hochul and top lawmakers would “repeat some of the worst harms of the War on Drugs” and allow law enforcement to “restart unconstitutional racial profiling of drivers.”
In April, New York cannabis regulators and labor officials announced the launch of a workforce training program aimed at “providing comprehensive safety education to workers” in the state’s legal marijuana industry.
Separately, OCM’s press secretary indicated the office is working on plans to expand permitting and licensing rules that could allow adults to buy and consume marijuana at movie theaters. Authorizing sales of cannabis products at theaters would set New York apart as it continues to build upon the state’s legalization law.
Earlier this year, a collective of businesses licensed under the CAURD program called on Hochul to forgive tens of millions of dollars in high-cost loans issued under a governor-created social equity loan fund.
A state lawmaker said in December that there’s a need to extend financial aid to CAURD license holders, many of whom are struggling under the high-cost loans.
Critics—including the NAACP New York State Conference, Black Cannabis Industry Association, Minority Cannabis Business Association, Service Disabled Veterans in Cannabis Association, Drug Policy Alliance, NYC NORML and VOCAL-NY—wrote to the governor earlier that month to express dismay at what they described as marijuana regulators’ “efforts in service of big corporations at the expense of small business and equity outcomes.”
Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
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Author: mscannabiz.com
MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.
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Top Rhode Island Marijuana Regulator Steps Down Ahead Of Possible Campaign For Attorney General
“She helped stand up the commission from the ground up and ensured that Rhode Island’s cannabis industry was launched with public health, safety, and fairness as priorities.”
By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant
One day after setting the timeline for awarding the state’s two dozen cannabis retail licenses, the state’s top pot industry regulator is stepping down amid expectations she will run for attorney general in 2026.
Kimberly Ahern was set to conclude her tenure as chairperson of the three-member Cannabis Control Commission—a position she has held since the panel was formed in 2023—at the end of the day Tuesday, Gov. Dan McKee (D) announced early Tuesday afternoon.
“Serving the state in this capacity has been a privilege, and I am proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time,” Ahern wrote in her resignation letter submitted Tuesday to the governor. “Rhode Island has approached this new industry with care and purpose.”
Ahern highlighted the commission’s approval of its first set of rules governing the state’s recreational cannabis market, including provisions for screening equity applicants and opening applications for prospective retailers eager to enter the fledgling industry.
“She helped stand up the commission from the ground up and ensured that Rhode Island’s cannabis industry was launched with public health, safety, and fairness as priorities,” McKee said in a statement.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D) in a separate statement thanked Ahern for “setting a high standard for public service.”
“Her work has positioned the Cannabis [Control] Commission for long-term success as we continue to strengthen this emerging industry,” Shekarchi said.
Senate President Valarie Lawson said Ahern’s decisions on the panel “showed her dedication to fairness and thoughtful regulation.”
“Her contributions will have a lasting impact on Rhode Island’s cannabis program,” Lawson said in a statement.
Ahern’s resignation letter does not state why she stepped down from her $204,069-a-year post, only that she looked forward to “finding new ways to serve the state.”
It is expected that she will enter the Democratic primary to succeed Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha (D), whose term as the state’s top prosecutor ends after 2026. Neronha earns $146,107 a year.
Two other Democrats have already announced their candidacies this fall: State Rep. Jason Knight and Keith Hoffmann, who worked as the chief of policy and senior counsel under Neronha.
State Rep. Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat, was the first to announce a bid for AG, but exited four days later after past allegations of domestic violence were brought to light.
Knight had $90,419 in his campaign account as of the most recent filing from the end of June. Hoffmann’s campaign announced October 6 that his account has raised $210,000 since he entered the race.
Ahern does not yet have a balance listed with the Board of Elections as of Tuesday.
But much like her potential competitors, Ahern too has worked as a state attorney. From 2010 through 2019, she served as a special assistant AG under three attorneys general: Neronha, Peter Kilmartin and Patrick Lynch.
She then went on to serve as deputy counsel for former Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) and went on to become the deputy chief of staff for McKee before her appointment to the Cannabis Control Commission.
McKee’s office confirmed the search for Ahern’s successor has begun. In the meantime, the panel will continue its work under the leadership of Commissioners Layi Oduyingbo and Robert Jacquard.
The commission’s next monthly meeting is scheduled for November 21, but Ahern indicated Monday it could be sooner in order for regulators to approve final certification of prospective social equity applicants.
Day-to-day operations of the commission and the state’s newly established Cannabis Office will continue to be handled by its administrator, Michelle Reddish.
This story was first published by Rhode Island Currant.
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
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MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.
[PRESS RELEASE] – RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 22, 2025 – CR Wellness announced its international partnership with Cookies to bring the most globally recognized cannabis company to Brazil with the launch of premium cannabis and CBD wellness products.
As the largest and most influential market in South America, Brazil represents a powerful step in Cookies’ growth – it is a country where music, street culture, and community celebration are deeply ingrained in everyday life, perfectly aligning with the spirit of Cookies.
With a presence in more than 30 domestic and eight international markets and thousands of products developed from exclusive cultivars, Cookies is now available in Brazil with a product line that follows the same standards of excellence that made the brand a global icon. All products are lab-tested, certified and fully compliant with Brazilian regulations, ensuring safety and effectiveness for doctors, patients and consumers.
The product line offered in Brazil includes blends developed with high-quality cannabinoids, designed to support health, wellness and quality of life, while maintaining the authenticity and identity that made Cookies a worldwide reference in the industry. Beginning with THC/CBD tinctures and THC gummies, these products are available by prescription only, with more information available here.
By bringing Cookies to Brazil, CR Wellness and its parent company, Biominerales, reinforce their commitment to delivering innovative, safe and science-backed products, expanding access to therapeutic alternatives and driving transformation in health care.
“CR Wellness is excited to introduce Cookies’ renowned cannabinoid-based products to Brazil,” CR Wellness Director Cassio E. Ismael said. “By combining Cookies’ global expertise with CR Wellness’ local knowledge, this partnership delivers premium wellness solutions to a market that embraces health, innovation and community.”
Founded in 2010 by Berner (rapper and entrepreneur) and Jai (renowned California cultivator), Cookies has gained global recognition by combining genetic innovation, premium quality and urban culture, becoming the first cannabis brand to be named one of the “Hottest Brands in America” by AdAge. Cookies is more than a brand; it’s a global movement of quality, innovation and culture, now within reach of Brazilians.
Author: mscannabiz.com
MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.
NJ governor candidates on marijuana; OH cannabis & hemp bill advances; PA cannabis regulatory vote; Non-cannabis CBD developed from kitchen spice
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/ TOP THINGS TO KNOW
New House and Senate lobbying reports show that alcohol companies and industry groups are stepping up lobbying efforts around hemp drinks—also detailing how major businesses like DoorDash and PayPal are engaged in cannabis-related congressional advocacy.
As New Jersey voters prepare to elect a new governor, the candidates have contrasting marijuana views—with Republican Jack Ciattarelli calling cannabis a “gateway drug” and Democrat Mikie Sherrill voting for and sponsoring reform legislation in Congress.
The Ohio House Judiciary Committee approved a bill to revise the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law by removing some protections for consumers and to restrict intoxicating hemp products.
The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee approved a bill to create a Cannabis Control Board to oversee the existing medical marijuana program and intoxicating hemp products—and which could also regulate the adult-use market if broader legalization is enacted.
Researchers behind a new federally funded study developed a new class of CBD-like compounds using the common kitchen spice caraway seeds—not cannabis—that “not only prevented seizures and reduced seizure-related deaths but also promoted healthier brain cell development.”
The Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission approved a timeline for issuing new marijuana dispensary licenses, including to social equity applicants and worker-owned cooperatives.
/ FEDERAL
The White House has paused the nomination process for President Donald Trump’s nomination to be a federal judge in Florida amid his involvement in an ongoing investigation into the alleged misuse of Medicaid funds to campaign against a marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s 2024 ballot.
The U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a hearing on Hezbollah’s ties to drug trafficking.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said that the Trump administration’s military strikes against alleged drug boats “go against all our tradition.”
House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) is calling for a hearing on the Trump administration’s military attacks on suspected drug boats.
/ STATES
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee (D) announced that the state’s top cannabis regulator is concluding her tenure.
A caller to Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s (R) radio show was hung up on in the middle of making a point about medical cannabis legislation.
Ohio’s Senate president and House minority leader discussed the prospects for passing hemp legislation.
The Maryland House Ways and Means Committee toured a cannabis processing facility.
A Florida senator hosted a cannabis forum.
A former Delaware judge authored an op-ed about the “risks” of marijuana legalization.
Louisiana regulators adopted changes to medical cannabis rules.
Illinois regulators held a hearing on proposed changes to cannabis rules.
Oklahoma regulators are delaying the launch of a new medical cannabis portal.
Vermont regulators sent a reminder about new hemp product labeling requirements.
Utah regulators sent various updates about the medical cannabis program.
Minnesota regulators will host an information session about cannabis community restoration grants on Thursday.
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Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.
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/ LOCAL
San Francisco, California’s mayor said President Donald Trump’s threats to send the National Guard to the city “will do nothing to get fentanyl off the streets or make our city safer.”
A former Fall River, Massachusetts mayor was stabbed near the marijuana dispensary he serves as CEO for.
/ INTERNATIONAL
Brazil’s agrarian development minister pressured Meta to reinstate banned cannabis-related Instagram accounts.
Ten parties running in Netherlands elections support legalizing cannabis.
/ SCIENCE & HEALTH
A review concluded that “cannabinoids are promising therapeutic targets in the treatment of sepsis, as they improved survival, and reduced inflammation and organ injury.”
A study found that “in a state [medical cannabis] program, barriers related to MC access and cost indicated a significant increase in the likelihood of [illicit medical cannabis] use.”
/ BUSINESS
Organigram Global Inc.s’ outgoing CEO will stay on longer as the company completes an ongoing search for a replacement.
Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. has a new board of directors member.
/ CULTURE
Musician Jelly Roll picked a team in a college football game based on marijuana, saying that “if this came down to the battle of the growers, I’m riding in Michigan, baby… My favorite place to partake in recreational activity in America.”
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Author: mscannabiz.com
MScannaBIZ for all you Mississippi Cannabis News and Information.
Top Rhode Island Marijuana Regulator Steps Down Ahead Of Possible Campaign For Attorney General
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