FLX420 Spring 2022 - Event Issue

Growing a cannabis culture in the Finger Lakes

Spring 2022

Home growing for beginners What They Said About Opting In The Tourism Potential of a Cannabis-Rich Region

WE ASKED ALLAN ABOUT

CBD, NYCGPA, NORML, MRTA, THC, EQUITY, SMALL FARMS

Available Products From Our Vendors

LED Lighting Supplies

130 West Morris St. Bath, NY 14810

607-622-4020

sales@green-merchant.com • green-merchant.com

contents

Volume 1, Issue 1, Spring 2022

6 10 12 17

My Goal with this Magazine

By Nate Kurash

The Right Insurance Coverage for Your Cannabis Business

Brian Chapman from J.D. Chapman Insurance Agency discusses the top three insurance coverages cannabis business owners should consider.

Grow It and They Will Come

Tourism expert Nicole Mahoney offers advice for serving the self-professed foodies, beach bums, outdoor adventurers, wine enthusiasts, craft beer lovers and sports addicts who are also active cannabis “tourists.”

Sweating It Out

Until New York State writes and releases the regulations governing dispensary operation, hopefuls can only go so far with their plan.

20

The Advocate Farmer Meet Allan Gandelman, hemp farmer, CBD maker, recent cultivator license recipient, and president of NYCGPA.

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

3

contents

26

Home Growing for Beginners

Vice President Tim Braden tbraden@fwpi.com Editor Tina Manzer tmanzer@fwpi.com Editorial Assistant Missy Kelly missy@fwpi.com

Jon Callahan from Dank Seeds and Honest Pharm presents simple and practical instructions for a successful first grow.

34 40 42 46

36 the

goods 4

Founder Nate Kurash nate@flx420.com

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

Graphic Artist Mark Stash mstash@fwpi.com Advertising Sales Amy Colburn amy@flx420.com

FLCC Responds to a Changing Cannabis Landscape

Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua is one of 10 SUNY colleges that offer certificates, training programs and degrees tied to the marijuana and hemp industries.

For Subscriptions 315-789-0458 For Advertising 315-789-2475 Business Office 315-789-0458 Business Fax 315-789-4263

small talk TO SUBSCRIBE, RENEW OR CHANGE ADDRESS, VISIT FLX420.COM

cannabis 101

Dr. Mikhail Kogan Discusses Medical Marijuana

the limit

An Artistic Way of Looking at Cannabis

FLX420 is published by Fahy-Williams Publishing Inc. 171 Reed St. Geneva, NY 14456 Copywrite © 2022. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

While “FLX” is a direct reference to the magazine’s lake-y region, 420 (“four twenty”) is the universal code for marijuana use. The number is iconic, with roots so embedded in the culture that many people around the world consider April 20 a holiday.

WE OFFER PRODUCTS FOR:

Bedtime Topicals • Pets Strength • Oils Supplies

Order now at 420CNY.COM

“The Finger Lakes Region is embarking on an epic journey, and I am beyond honored to experience it with you.”

B

Founder, Nate Kurash

efore I became involved in the industry a few years ago, I had very little knowledge of either the business side of the cannabis plant or even the plant itself. I have learned quite a bit in a relatively short amount of time, and I want to share as much of my knowledge as possible with you. Helping to educate and connect everyone interested in the adult-use cannabis space is my goal for FLX420, along with the hope that the many good people working in the industry will use it as a platform to share their knowledge and insights, too.

What has been most striking to me as an Ohio transplant is that cannabis has a “culture” and the Finger Lakes Region seems to be the perfect medium in which to grow it. As a destination, it will attract all the needed players for cannabis businesses to truly flourish.

Getting to where we are now has been a long journey, but we are finally starting to see progress.

Just a few days before we went to press, the Office of Cannabis Management issued cultivation licenses to 52 farms. Two of them are profiled in this issue. We still have a long way to go, but I am convinced that we will have one of the most vibrant and successful markets in the country, creating endless opportunities for businesses big and small.

Finally, for FLX420 to be successful, we need to hear from you. We welcome all voices. Feel free to email your thoughts, suggestions, advice and ideas to us at info@flx420.com.

FLX420 magazine

the NEW magazine devoted to cannabis in the Finger Lakes.

Subscribe today at FLX420.com 6

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

Grow It and

They Will Come

by Nicole Mahoney, Break the Ice Media

Cannabis can enhance the world-class visitor experience here in the Finger Lakes

8

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

A

s a lifelong resident of the Finger Lakes region and a professional working in the travel industry here, I was curious to discover how legalized marijuana in New York State would impact the tourism industry. Admittedly, I had not paid much attention to the growing cannabis industry, and I soon discovered I had my own implicit biases about the types of visitors this new industry would attract. Memories of high school and college parties, and images of Woodstock came to mind.

I decided the best way to learn was to talk to an expert, so I turned to Brian Applegarth from California-based Cultivar Strategies, a company that helps destinations prepare for and capitalize on the emerging cannabis-related travel trend. Founder of the California Cannabis Tourism Association, Brian has worked in the space since 2015.

In an interview for my travel and tourism podcast, “Destination on the Left,” Brian helped take the mystery out of cannabis travel as we discussed the multitude of opportunities and great tourism potential that can accompany legal adultuse cannabis.

During our discussion, I learned what cannabis

experiences can look like when they’re embraced by a destination. “As wine pairs with food, cannabis pairs with experiences,” Brian explained. Here are some key takeaways from his interview that may help guide cannabis tourism in the Finger Lakes and beyond.

Who, exactly, are “they”?

Based on a study conducted by MMGY Travel Intelligence in collaboration with Brian’s company Cultivar Strategies, nearly 30 percent of the active leisure-travel audience is motivated to access a cannabis-related experience at a destination. An important characteristic of that audience is a higher-than-average median household income – $50,000 and above.

Active cannabis travelers are primarily interested in visiting a dispensary, followed by trying CBD or THC edibles. They are selfdescribed foodies (47 percent), beach bums (36 percent), outdoor adventurers (35 percent), wine enthusiasts (29 percent), craft beer lovers (25 percent) and sports addicts (23 percent). Based on those characteristics alone, it is easy to see why cannabis tourism potential in the Finger Lakes is high.

Among the subsegments of cannabis travel audience are the “canna-curious.” According to

the study, one-third of the cannabis-motivated travel audience has never tried cannabis before.

The canna-curious are particularly intrigued by the health and wellness benefits of cannabis and its potential to improve quality of life. The cannacurious are looking for a cannabis experience that has an educational component, like learning about CBD and its anti-inflammatory properties.

There is also a “wellness traveler” subset with people who are focused on mental and spiritual health. They would like to unlock new discussions around holistic health, and see cannabis as a tool for wellbeing, balance, and homeostasis.

Finally, there are “cannabis-serious” travelers who are experienced users and are seeking specific cannabis related experiences.

John Joseph Inn, Groton, New York

According to BudandBreakfast. com, a website that links cannabis-using tourists with like-minded hotels, inns, residences, and resorts around the world, “Cannabis tourism is no longer simply a fringe industry – it’s a fully developed trade for travelers and businesses keeping in step with changing times.”

Destinations – here is your opportunity The high percentage of canna-curious leisure travelers combined with the high interest in cannabis tourism is the opening destinations need to lead the strategy for this emerging market.

Plans should be carefully made so that every opportunity is taken to show the benefits of the cannabis plant and how powerful they can be.

Destination marketing organizations should consider a holistic destination approach, while

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

9

Grow It and They Will Come California’s Humboldt County, the nation’s top marijuana-producing region, is the center of the state’s weed-tourism explosion, reports MJ Brand Insights. Like the Finger Lakes, the area’s natural resources, unspoiled beaches, and historic communities beckon visitors. Humboldt Social, a group of local businesses that “normalizes connections” between hospitality and cannabis, believes that if Napa Valley can create a healthy tourism economy around wine, Humboldt can do the same around weed. Visitors at Scotia Lodge, the group’s new hospitality property, can order from in-room menus that feature edibles, pre-rolled smokes, and THCinfused drinks from a dispensary in nearby Eureka.

businesses within the travel industry should consider their own plans for cannabis.

Destinations that create holistic plans can position cannabis as an enhancement to the existing in-market experience. For instance, cannabis could be used as a targeted sensory enhancement tool for travelers visiting art exhibits, restaurants, spas, and other attractions.

The first step is taking an inventory of the stakeholders beyond just dispensaries. They include accommodations,

restaurants, museums and other attractions. Do they incorporate CBD or THC into their experiences?

Even if a hospitality business is not actively seeking this audience or providing experiences around cannabis, they should understand the needs of the audience and how to welcome them.

Among the ideas and experiences available to leisure travelers here and in other states are glamping getaways and “bud & breakfasts.” Other ideas range from painting classes – called “Puff and Paints” – to spa experiences and

sushi- and joint-rolling events.

In California, a more mature cannabis market, there’s been a recent uptick in the number of business travelers who want to visit cannabis lounges and other progressive destinations. Their goals is an educational experience that they can also implement back home.

One of the exciting revelations of the MMGY study is how much the cannabis market overlaps the food- and wineenthusiast markets. Clever destinations have used the overlap to their advantage,

We will take your security needs from seed to sale.

myerssecurity.com • 321 Front St. Vestal, NY 13850 • (607) 343-0154 10

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

PuffPassandPaint.com, the website of an eight-your-old company in related travel trend responsibly. Education is key – cannabis offers an effects-based experience that, without the proper instruction, may not be a positive one.

Education starts with the stakeholders.

It’s important that they understand the needs of their visitors and why catering to them is important to the success of their business. Bringing these partners into the fold is essential, especially given the fact that many leisure travelers have little experience with cannabis.

Once stakeholders are

combining their guests’ consumption of all three in fun ways. Examples include offering travelers a cannabis experience that stimulates their appetite, accentuates the palette, or makes the aroma of food more vibrant. Assigning intention to the setting and timing of cannabis consumption elevates the sophistication of the experience, making it richer, deeper and more meaningful.

A safe and successful experience Destinations should approach the cannabis-

onboard, the destination can determine what kind of information its visitors will need, the different types of experiences to offer them, and the best ways to share the stories of those experiences. The destination management organization can include the information within a travel guide that also promotes the safety of the experience and why it’s memorable.

There are a lot of options to consider when you invite visitors to ingest cannabis, including the many methods of consumption and the

Denver, says its group classes with the self-explanatory name “aren’t about making the perfect piece of art. They’re about being part of an atmosphere that’s relaxed, comfortable, and open-minded.”

Painters and cannabis users with various levels of expertise and from all over the world attend classes to experience a sense of community in an intimate, inspired setting. Puff Pass and Paint classes are currently being scheduled in Boston; California; Chicago; Denver; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Portland Oregon; Washington, D.C. and … Brooklyn!

Quality ONE HEMP HOLISTICS

CBD Products ✓ ✓ cGMP Certified

NOFA Organic Certified

FOR INDIVIDUALS

FOR BUSINESSES

Retail Store

B2B Wholesale White Label

2023 Military Rd. Niagara Falls, NY 14304

(716) 362-9499

OneHempHolistics.com OneHempHolistics.com

LEARN MORE AND SHOP ONLINE

LEARN MORE AND SHOP ONLINE

• Farming • Extraction & Purification • Business-Ready Solutions • Investment Opportunities

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

11

Grow It and They Will Come

Top Quality MJ Seeds. Fast & FREE Delivery.

THC dosage. If a canna-curious visitor eats too many edibles, for instance, it can be a terrible experience that leaves a negative impression of the destination – the opposite of what it wants to accomplish in building memorable experiences for its guests.

It is not just understanding how to use cannabis responsibly, it is filling in the information gaps and providing the guardrails around its use. Compare ingesting cannabis to craft beer, another tourism trend. Craft beer is available in a wide spectrum of options that range from high ABV to non-alcoholic and everything in between. Tasting rooms are great sources of

Learning about the cannabis industry, plus the plant’s properties and responsible use, is a necessary first step for everyone in the Finger Lakes tourism industry.

SHAPE THE FUTURE

Reach Your Goals

Our Cannabis Biology and Cultivation track features specialized study and hands-on training. The cannabis industry is positioned for years of growth, and our horticulture students are preparing for careers meeting the agricultural demand for hemp.

LEARN MORE: FLCC.EDU/CANNABIS 12

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

information and serve as a guide to visitors to make sure that their experience is safe and enjoyable.

The travel industry can be a platform that helps educate consumers about cannabis through storytelling, and experiences that take it above and beyond the product purchase. Information should highlight the positive aspects of the plant – from hemp as a renewable resource, CBD as a wellness tool that provides relaxation and reduces anxiety, and the more effects-based THC component that should, with the right dose, be a fun and positive experience.

Cannabis in the Finger Lakes Learning about the cannabis industry, plus the plant’s properties and responsible use, is a necessary first step for everyone in the Finger Lakes tourism industry. Collaboration among our destination marketing organizations, the hospitality industry, and the cannabis industry can give the Finger Lakes and New York State a competitive advantage. Curating a cannabis consumer experience in a mindful way can complement the existing tourist experience overall. To be successful with this market, tourism and hospitality professionals must lead the way.

Canandaigua is the pure essence of what home feels like. The ebb and flow of seasons changing

draws one in, the pure kindness one receives going into any place is heartwarming, and the adventures Mother Earth has to offer are breathtaking.

Welcome to The Chosen Spot. We are here to leave you better than you came. Walking through the doors of Jaydega 7.0 you enter into a feeling of peace, acceptance, and joy. You are greeted by Lollypop Farm’s MVP Nugget, a fun-loving, mean mugging, orange tabby cat. A waft of incense lingers in the air. Gaze up toward the ceiling to see a mesmerizing blue sky to soothe your soul on a cloudy day.

Murals cover the walls and take you to a blissful state.

Employees greet you happily with a smile, full of knowledge and expertise to guide you in this experience.

The array of products makes you tingly with excitement.

There is something for everyone, whether it be your mind or body that’s in need of a little tender loving care.

Swing by to gaze off into the Canandaigua Lake artwork or just to say high. We are here to keep you elevated and help with many ailments.

Jaydega 7.0

236 South Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424

(585) 362-1062

jaydega.com • jaydega7.0@gmail.com

by Michael Nocella

A

On April 14, Main Street Farms was officially licensed by the state to start growing marijuana for New York’s adult market.

llan Gandelman’s passion for the cannabis plant used to get him in trouble.

As a teenager growing up in New Jersey, he was arrested several times for possession and eventually lost his driver’s license. When he got to college, he started working to reform those laws as vice president of the NORML chapter at SUNY New Paltz. “That was in 2000,” he told us in a recent interview. “I’ve been involved in cannabis advocacy ever since.”

His vocation is farming – organic vegetables and hemp right now – and manufacturing: CBD. The vegetable CSA came first, in 2011.

The produce grown at Main Street Farms in Cortland is used in elementary schools, colleges, restaurants and the homes of families all over the state. Hemp came next, in 2017, after Gandelman contracted Lyme disease. It almost put him out of commission, with symptoms that included arthritis pain and insomnia. To alleviate them, he turned to his favorite plant.

“It wasn’t until I started taking CBD for my Lyme that I was fully introduced to the therapeutic side of the herb. It became another reason to love cannabis.”

He bought CBD oil from Colorado, but that same year, New York legalized industrial hemp through its pilot program. Gandelman and his business partner Karli Miller-Hornick obtained one of the very first licenses to grow and process CBD, and founded New York Hemp Oil. “Today we run multiple projects under one roof here, everything from growing to manufacturing to sales.”

What they sell is their own CBD, Head and Heal, the first New York State hemp brand carried

by Wegmans. At about the same time Wegmans was adding it to the shelves of 91 stores, Head and Heal’s independent retail customers like Natur-Tyme in Syracuse and The Local Food Market in Cortland, were quickly selling through it. “That’s when it struck us that we were on to something,” Gandelman recalled.

The epiphany helped keep them going.

“Starting our business was a huge risk. The industry was so new, and it was hard to navigate

through the legalities. It still is – the cannabis industry has an ever-changing regulatory landscape,” he explained. “Over the years, we’ve dealt with everything from the legal details of CBD packaging and labeling to, at one point, losing our banking! We had to get Senator Schumer to the farm to advocate on our behalf, but it worked.”

An entire group of advocates = power In 2018, a New York cannabis trade group took root after “a chance encounter at a Cornell University conference,” reports Syracuse.com.

“Andrew Rosner, cofounder of the New Yorkbased hemp company HR Botanicals, switched seats to sit near an interesting-looking stranger named Allan Gandelman.”

Both men had the same concerns about the hemp and hemp extract regulations that were making their way around Albany. They felt small growers and processors like themselves weren’t represented. What was needed, they agreed, was a business association to speak for the industry and interact with decision makers.

After recruiting three more New York State hemp-industry entrepreneurs to form a board, the group hired lobbyist Joe Rossi, managing director of Park Strategies. The New York Cannabis Growers and Processers Association was born.

“At first, NYCGPA was just advocating for smaller farmers,” Gandelman said. “We had a lot of victories in the hemp space, like writing and passing one of the country’s first hempextract laws that allows CBD to be in food and beverages with certain requirements. Today, the association is all-encompassing, covering everything from cultivation through retail. With 300-plus members and more joining every day, it’s become the biggest cannabis industry association in the state.”

Its goal, he says, is to make sure that the cannabis industry is fair to all businesses – especially small businesses – and to protect the space for New Yorkers.

“We have a seat at the table in Albany, which

Allan Gandelman’s path to a cannabis career was anything but direct. After studying art and anthropology in college, he taught high-school history. His frustration with the educational system and the unhealthy food served in school cafeterias led him to study meditation and yoga in India.

“When I came back I got into farming. I wanted to grow better, healthier food for schoolkids.”

14

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

The

Advocate Farmer

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

15

The success of his businesses is due to his team, Gandelman says. He listed everyone who works for him and how good they are at their jobs: quality assurance, customer service, education/outreach, sales, the lab, the farm crew who takes care of the vegetables and cannabis, content and design, procurement, bookkeeping, fulfillment, the brand manager, the cannabis director.

Below: Karli Miller-Hornick, co-owner, co-founder, and CEO of New York Hemp Oil, has been an organic vegetable farmer since 2010. She told Authority Magazine last year that her initial goal was to build a sustainable farm, and not necessarily grow cannabis. But when her business partner got Lyme disease, “we made the conscious decision to grow his medicine.” It also fulfilled her goal.

16

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

we didn’t know would happen, but it did because we’ve been advocating fairly for our membership,” he said.

“Most notably, we got the Conditional Cultivation Bill passed, something no one thought we would pull off.

The NYCGPA made New York the first state in the country to kick off our cannabis industry with a group of small farmers instead of out-of-state conglomerate corporations.”

An industry of sharers As the association’s president, Gandelman is a mentor to local businesses. In some instances, he could also be considered a competitor. We wondered about the balance.

“I want to always lead by example and have a company that embeds values and ethics into the process when it comes to the environment, sustainability and social equity,” he said. “I don’t consider any of the other small businesses competition. New Yorkers smoke millions of pounds of weed a year, and all of our small businesses put together couldn’t possibly serve their needs. So our competitors, really, are largely out-ofstate corporations and illegal growers in other states. We local businesses are not in competition, but rather cooperation – to build a fair and equitable industry.”

Gandelman’s advice for the many cannabis hopefuls in the area is “to know your skills and find out what you don’t know. Then surround yourself with people who can lift you

up and help you with the things you haven’t yet experienced. Network! The best way to do that is to become a member of NYCGPA and ontherevel – shout out to Lulu.”

Stay tuned In talking with Gandelman, one thing is clear: his excitement and optimism for the cannabis industry here is high, no pun intended.

“I see the entire state becoming a hotspot for cannabis in the Northeast,” he told us. “I foresee cannabis farms everywhere run by amazing growers, plus manufacturers and dispensaries spread across the state. In the Finger Lakes specifically, people will look to the example set by our craft brewery tours and wine trails to cultivate a successful craft-cannabis tourism industry. We’ll have a lot of dispensaries and lounges.”

Part of his excitement stems from what he knows about New York’s current, underground, cannabis scene.

“There are folks in cities growing and consuming super-high-quality indoor flower, and there are people in rural areas who have been growing cannabis in their fields for decades,” he lists. “We have people who are dabbing; getting interested in rosin.

And don’t forget the soccer-mom users and grandmas!

“I think once it is legal for them to do so, all of these people will move to buying their products from dispensaries. They’ll look for brands that align with their values and consumption preferences.

“The cannabis plant has thousands of uses we need to explore, beyond THC. That’s why people should learn to love it; not just the getting high part. That’s an extremely limited view of cannabis.”

People who are more health-andwellness focused will be able to go into a dispensary and find a New York State-grown organic cannabis product that fits their needs.

“The biggest shift in the industry in the next few years will be figuring out who the consumers of cannabis are, what they want, and how to get

it to them.”

He’s looking forward to the impact MRTA will have on his business, particularly the opportunity to create a more diverse range of products – including those with THC – that will be appropriate for sale in dispensaries.

“But right now, I’m proud

that we have a company and community that’s on the forefront of cannabis innovation in New York,” he concludes. “I’m proud that we can help lead the industry in the right direction with social equity, sustainability, and small business guiding all of the decisions we are making.”

“I am set up with exclusive markets that I am appointed to for NY State, and they will not be appointing any other agents for these programs. These carriers write FULL insurance coverage, including workers comp.”

Jim Demer

716-417-2086 Cannabis Risk Manager NYCGPA Member

INSURANCE, SURETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

500 Seneca St. | Suite 303 Buffalo, NY 14204 Phone (716) 842-0700 www.hoffmanhanafin.com

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

17

What They Said About

Opting In

Hilton

So

Sodus Point Webster

Sodus

Brockport

“There is a large Cayuga-nation presence in our area, and they are already selling cannabis in four locations,” explains Town Supervisor Mike Ferrara. “Opting in allows non-Native American residents to compete in the market. Numerous community members reached out in support of our decision. None spoke out against it at public meetings or independently.”

E. Rochester Fairport

Town of Homer

“The decision was put to a community vote and passed by majority,” says Town Supervisor Fred Forbes.

Macedon

Caledonia

Honeoye Victor Falls

Avon

City of Canandaigua

“Prior to the vote, we gathered a lot of community feedback,” said City Manager John Goodwin. “It was mixed, but the majority was in favor of opting in to dispensaries. We opted out of on-site consumption because it simply lacked precedent.” Zoning is tentatively established, pending the remainder of regulations. “No formal business offers have been made here, but there have been several inquiries,” said Goodwin.

Clifton Springs Phelps

FINGER LAKES REGION

Honeoye

Penn Yan Naples Nunda

Dansville

Branchport

Wayland

Dundee

Prattsburgh Cohocton

Avoca Hornell

Hammondsport

Wa Gle Bath

Canisteo

Painted Post

Rexville

Addison

Opting In / Out – Explained From the time adult-use cannabis became legal last March until December 31, 2021, New York’s 1,521 villages, towns, and cities were tasked with deciding whether or not cannabis dispensaries and lounges could open in their communities.

Allowing them to do so, or “opting in” was not a decision taken lightly by community leaders, especially since regulations 18

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

Wat

Geneva

1

Village of North Syracuse

An online survey indicated that the majority of village residents were in favor of opting in, explained Mayor Gary Butterfield. “Neighboring towns had already done so, so cannabis was going to be accessible anyway. There are a limited number of spots a cannabis business can operate here, given the laws on their required distance from churches and schools.”

Newark

Bloomfield

Livonia Hemlock

Geneseo Mt. Morris

Lima

Manchester Shortsville Canandaigua

Village of Horseheads

“We’re going to take advantage of the tax revenue and credits,” said Jessica Molter, the village manager’s assistant. “Our planning board has already discussed zoning and made recommendations. We’re just waiting on the regulations before we make any solid decisions.”

The decision to opt out of on-site consumption came from the difficulties they foresee with policing and monitoring.

Lyons

Palmyra

City of Auburn

According to City Clerk Chuck Mason, tax revenue played a large part in the decision to opt in. In addition, Colorado-based Terrapin Cannabis Company has purchased industrial property in the city to build a production facility that could, potentially, bring 100 jobs into the community.

Spencerport

Town of Seneca Falls

governing cannabis sales had yet to be written. About 750 communities, in fact, opted out and will not allow dispensaries within their borders. About 100 more also opted out of consumption sites.

While the opt-out number is significant, the state permits local lawmakers to change their minds whenever they want

KEY

opted in to allow adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries and on-site consumption businesses opted in to allow adult-use cannabis retail dispensaries only opted out of dispensaries and consumption businesses

Town of Candor

odus Bay

“Tax revenue was the biggest reason to opt in,” said Town Supervisor William Strosahl. “There was no opposition from the community.”

Wolcott

Town of Sodus

Baldwinsville

“The council voted ‘yes’ to keep our options open,” said Town Supervisor Scott Johnson. “Once the state regulations are in place, there will be a community vote on whether or not to allow businesses to operate in our town.”

North Syracuse Clyde

Jordan

Solvay

Fayetteville

Weedsport

Manlius

Marcellus

terloo

Seneca Falls

Skaneateles Cayuga

Auburn

Union Springs

Moravia Ovid

Homer

Interlaken

Cortland Groton

McGraw

Lansing

Dryden

Cayuga Heights Ithaca

Marathon

Close to 50 percent of respondents to a Geneseo community survey strongly opposed dispensaries/consumption sites, according to the minutes of an 1/8/21 meeting of the village board. Safety was the biggest issue, concerns over DUI in particular.

Spencer

Candor

Newark Valley

Van Etten

Elmira

According to the minutes of a December 6, 2021 meeting, Mayor Bill Boland explained that, to him, opting in to dispensaries was a matter of public health. He noted the risk current users run of purchasing unregulated cannabis that may be laced with potentially dangerous substances. “I conclude the sooner we do it, the better.”

Village of Geneseo

Montour Falls Odessa

Horseheads

Mayor Malik Evans, who took office on January 1, will focus on the economic opportunity that legal adult-use marijuana presented, “for the city as a whole, and for those who have been most severely impacted by draconian drug laws,” wrote Barbara Pierce, director of the city’s bureau of communications. “We are about to hold our first community information session with the goal of educating and engaging residents in the process of defining rules and regulations.

Several events have been held on the topic of supporting businesses interested in entering the cannabis marketplace.”

City of Corning

Trumansburg

Burdett

Former Mayor Svante Myrick, who resigned in January 2022, supported the opt-in option. “Cannabis sales have occurred for a long time illegally and untaxed,” he noted. “Keeping adult-use cannabis illegal perpetuated the worst aspects of legal discrimination.” Mayor Myrick also wanted to make sure people were using cannabis that was regulated, i.e. tested for quality and safety.

City of Rochester

Aurora

atkins en

City of Ithaca

Heights

Owego

Town of Perinton

The lack of guidance from New York State, coupled with concerns about the safety of the town’s residents, contributed to the opt-out vote. Minutes of a 12/22/21 meeting noted that opting in later was an option, “once there is more information about the potential impacts, benefits, and detriments to the Town.”

Waverly

in order to opt in, pointed out Rebecca C. Lewis, deputy state politics reporter at City & State New York. She spoke to Elizabeth Spinia, supervisor of the Town of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County – an opt-out community – who explained she and her board don’t actually oppose retail sales. “We know we can control it with zoning,” she told Lewis. “I think

unanimously, we’re pro marijuana sales, we just wanted to see what this looks like.”

To see the complete list of opt-out communities, visit the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker at rockinst.org.

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

19

FLCC Responds to a

Changing Cannabis Landscape F

inger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua has long been a leader in plant education and management. It launched its well-respected horticulture degree program in 1973. In 2011, FLCC introduced a two-year viticulture and wine technology degree – the first such program in the Northeast – in response to the wine industry’s need for skilled workers.

Now it’s offering a cannabis biology and cultivation track within its horticulture program. The first students enrolled in the fall of 2020.

The track consists of three classes that provide a background in the biology and cultivation of the cannabis plant, as well as the regulations associated with this culturally and chemically complex product.

1. Cannabis: Biology to industrial application This course is a survey of the history of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) and its biology, breeding, chemistry, pharmacology and downstream uses, from biofuel and pulp feedstocks to medicinal application. Students develop an in-depth knowledge of cannabis, enabling them to explain present perspectives on its production and utility in human society and agriculture. Shawn Kenaley, instructor, has a doctorate in plant pathology and phytopathology from West Virginia University.

20

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

2. Cannabis cultivation This course will familiarize students with the growth requirements of cannabis. Topics include the cannabis life cycle, propagation, growing techniques, environmental requirements for proper growth, pest pressure and management, and harvest techniques.

Students receive practical greenhouse experience using hemp.

Casey Berg, instructor, has a bachelor’s degree in plant sciences from Rutgers University and serves as cultivation manager for Columbia Care, a cultivator, manufacturer and provider of medical and adult use cannabis products.

3. Regulations of cannabis cultivation This course introduces students to the legal issues related to medicinal cannabis production and best practices as they relate to regulations. The course covers laws that govern cannabis cultivation, distribution and possession, and consumption by medical patients.

Students will learn state laws regarding cannabis cultivation as they relate to medicinal use and to impacts on the state budget. The course also explores the recent history of cannabis and ways in which federal laws impact cultivation.

FLCC is one of 10 SUNY colleges that

offer certificates, training programs and degrees tied to the marijuana and hemp industries in an effort to help students start careers in New Glenna Colaprete-Hudson

Shawn Kenale

Casey Berg

York’s emerging industry.

•

Beyond providing education for workforce development, FLCC has sought to draw attention to social issues surrounding the legalization of cannabis. In March, the college held a Cannabis Business Incubator Symposium with a panel discussion on ensuring social equity as the industry grows in New York.

Among the topics was the state’s plan to give the first licenses for sale of adult-use cannabis to those who had been charged with cannabis-related criminal offenses prior to legalization.

Glenna ColapreteHudson, an adjunct faculty member, is founder of Glenna’s CBD Best Oil with two retail locations near Rochester. Licensed as a New York State hemp grower, cultivator and retailer, Glenna not only develops and sells her award-winning line of natural and locally-farmed CBD products, she also serves on the Rochester Cannabis Coalition Committee, and on the New York State Cannabis Growers and Processors Committee on Social Equity Education, Retail and Sustainability.

“There is so much to learn from this amazing plant,” she says. “I thoroughly enjoy studying the cannabinoids, but the sustainability aspects of the whole plant in remediation, packaging, etc. are just as fascinating. The medicinal sustainability and economic elements alone could be so impactful to the residents of New York State – in addition to the simple benefits of using it for recreational purposes.”

Glenna told FLX420 that in 2003, she started experiencing pain from prolific nerve damage

caused by a condition called pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE). At the time, she was an accomplished engineer and product developer; had been for 20 years after earning multiple degrees from RIT. “The medicine I was prescribed for the pain was negatively impacting me,” Glenna explained. “I had tried pharmaceutics, which resulted in brain fog and fatigue. I found that frustrating and diminishing since I am so interested in academics and intellectual pursuits.”

On a trip to Colorado, she decided to try CBD oil. “It was life-changing. The impact of returning to a pain-free life was so immense it compelled me to totally change my career course.

“If you had told me 20 years ago that I would be growing hemp and developing CBD products, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Glenna added. “I had limited experience with cannabis and, personally, I don’t like to be altered but support the right for adults who choose to imbibe.”

SUNY’s Farmingdale campus offers a Cannabis Production and Management Certificate

•

Morrisville College launched a 15-credit Cannabis Industry minor degree program in 2019

•

Stony Brook offers a biology course called, “Cannabis: History, Culture, Science and Medicinal Uses”

“Our mission is to provide access to students to meet workforce demands,” SUNY Chancellor James Malatras told the New York Post shortly after MRTA became law last year. “This is not a simple matter. This is a seismic shift in the law.”

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

21

THE

goods

Affinity Intimacy Lube with CBD heightens sensitivity. Made from organic coconut oil and organic hemp, it relaxes, soothes, and improves the experience while supporting vaginal-tract health. amienaturals.com

Professional’s Choice Awardwinning Eye Cream makes the skin supple and elastic.

Coming soon: a face serum with the restorative power of CBD and the cellbuilding and skin-tightening properties of hyaluronic acid. glennascbd.com

The Mint Jelly from Humboldt Seed Company is an auto flower designed for the top shelf flower market although extractors won’t complain about the ample terps and dense buds. humboldtseedcompany.com/mint-jelly-autoflower Nectar For the Gods One Shot Granules feature natural ingredients blended and ground into fine powders and held together in small pellets using a molasses binder. Available in-store only at Green Merchant Gardening in Bath. green-merchant.com

Cultivate and grow the finest cannabis with a Culligan Water System. The Culligan experts will test your water, find your solution and customize the equipment and service needed. watertreatmentbyculligan.com 22

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

A Gummy Sample Kit is a great way to try the Top 10 flavors available from Melt to Make. Each kit includes four sample Gummy Pucks, one sample bag of sanding sugar, and nine 2.7g Gummy Samples of the Top 10 flavors. melt-to-make.com

Prime Superior Drench is safe and versatile spray, perfect for indoor growers. It improves plant growth and produces larger root systems, more attractive leaves, thicker stems, and more biochemicals. primesuperior.com Bristol Extracts Hemp Wellness Co. makes effective and high-quality natural cannabinoid products.

Choose from Replenish to restore, Pain for pain relief, Chill to relax, and Sleep for some ZZZs. bristolextracts.com

The smokable CBD flower from Green Unicorn Farms – specialists in “healing without the high”— is federally legal.

It sparkles with trichomes, but has no psychoactive effects. greenunicornfarms.com

Ghost Dog Pipes are hand blown in the heart of the Finger Lakes, in a studio just outside Watkins Glen.

Find them on Facebook

Head and Heal’s vegan, full-spectrum Raspberry CBD Gummies are made with nano-emulsified, water-soluble CBD extract for better absorption. They taste great! Made in-house from our own CBD. headandheal.com Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

23

goods THE

The Creative Thinking Journal from The Pilgrim Soul was designed to be used when you’re high.

The journal features more than 50 creative-thinking exercises to increase creativity and build productive habits. pilgrimsoul.com/journals

The 2000mg CBD Salve from Ithaca Organics is made from beeswax from the Ithaca Farmers’ Market and menthol from a local herbalist, all packed into a tiny two-ounces. ithacaorganics.com

OC Creamsicle Feminized Marijuana Seeds from Dank Seeds USA blossom into large dense flowers covered with THC-producing trichome crystals. dankseedsusa.com

24

FLX420.com • Spring 2022

Organic Matter Tees custom prints apparel using a 100-percent water-based “old-school” process. The fabric absorbs the ink for a soft-to-the-touch feel. Many designs and options are available. organicmattertees@gmail.com 585-967-8608

daab’s induction-heated e-rig is discreet and portable for the perfect hit every time. The patentpending carrier cup with an all-glass airflow path offers a safe, easy, and reliable dabbing experience. shop.getispire.com

Full Spectrum Hemp Extract Tincture contains an impressive array of CBD and terpenes. It attaches to every endocannabinoid system receptor for the maximum benefit of the combined compounds. onehempholistics.com

Spectrum CBD Feed Additive for horses helps increase energy, enhance calm and reduce pain.

Many horse owners turn to CBD for its anti-inflammatory, digestive health and anti-anxiety properties (the entourage effect). nativeceuticals.com

Buffalo Runtz is a sativa-dominant strain covered in frost with purple and violet hues. It’s potent with good yields. The fruity flavor combines tropical citrus, sour berries and spicy pineapple. elev8seeds.com

The PlantaRX Migraine Stick is soothing, cooling and effective. It offers instant headache/stress relief with one of the highest concentrations of pain-relief CBD on the market. cbdmiamishop.com

Futurola X Tyson 2.0 tobacco-free blunt cones + wraps are infused with terpenes derived from Mike Tyson’s favorite strains. Ultra-thin, unbleached rolling paper pairs with perforated tips. futurolausa.com

Handcrafted Powder-coated Steel Bells from The FXL Bell Co. are a unique gift. Order online or purchase at the Windmill Farm in Penn Yan or Finger Lakes Unique in Corning. flxbells.com

Spring 2022 • FLX420.com

25