News Release - Online Community Forum on New York’s Cannabis Industry

City of Rochester

News Release

Notable News:

  • Online Form Available to Gather Questions Regarding Legalization & Business Opportunities
  • Questions to be Addressed via Online Forum at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 29

(Thursday, April 22, 2021) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren today announced an online community forum with NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes to share information on how Rochester residents can participate in the New York’s cannabis industry as the State implements legalization of marijuana. The City also launched an online form for residents to submit questions on how they can start a cannabis-related business. The questions received will be discussed at an online community forum to be held next week at 6 p.m., on Thursday, April 29. The question form and the community forum will be accessible on Zoom and YouTube via the City’s website at cityofrochester.gov/legalmarijuana.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to advance equity in Rochester due to the legalization of marijuana,” said Mayor Warren. “To ensure we do so, our residents must be included and have the opportunity to lead in the cannabis industry. Our community forum is an important step to achieve this goal. I encourage everyone to submit questions for this event and participate so we can seize this historic opportunity.”

N.Y. State Assembly Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes led the fight for marijuana legalization in the State Legislature and ensured that it would benefit Black and Brown residents most harmed by criminalization.

“On March 30, we voted to end 90 years of prohibition in New York State. Now that cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over, it’s imperative that we educate all New Yorkers on this historic legislation and its impact on all of our lives. I’m happy to join Mayor Lovely Warren and the citizens of Rochester in this important discussion,” said Assembly Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes.

“I’m thrilled that Majority Leader Peoples-Stokes is joining us to discuss how we make the most of this opportunity to advance equity in Rochester,” said Mayor Warren. “We would not have this chance unless she stood up and fought to place equity at the center of marijuana legalization in New York.”

Mayor Warren has consistently advocated to ensure that the legalization of marijuana promoted equity and fairness for everyone in our community. Residents can learn more about these efforts in Mayor Warren’s Equity and Recovery Agenda, which can be found at cityofrochester.gov/2021SOTC.

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