QUIET GROWTH
The journey toward cannabis growing, cultivation and retail proves to be a marathon, not a sprint By Ta n n e r H a r di ng
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ince the legalization of adult-use cannabis was passed in New York State in March 2021, there have largely been more questions than answers when it comes to what that might look like here and around the state. Two of the people trying to answer those questions locally are Brian Batrowny and Damien Cornwell, the chair and vice chair respectively of the Southern Tier Cannabis Committee. “We try to take the confusion out of it,” Cornwell said. “Even if we don’t know, we tell people ‘we don’t know and here’s why.’ There’s nothing more frustrating than waiting for something to happen and you don’t even know why. There’s so much chatter and noise in the room. So it’s to be that lighthouse, so to speak. To give straight answers to straight questions.” The Southern Tier Cannabis Committee represents Tompkins, Steuben, Schuyler, Chemung, Tioga, Broome, Chenango, Otsego and Delaware counties within the New York Cannabis Growers and Processors Association (NYCPGA). Its mission is to provide education and networking opportunities for business owners, bring together the Southern Tier cannabis community and stakeholders, and advocate and lobby for small- to mid-size operators. About 50% of members are growers and processors, while the remaining 50% are split evenly between retail and sponsors/donors. Currently, the state is busy working on regulations and granting licenses. Thus far 146 licenses have been granted in total, with the latest batch of 58 awarded on May 19. Applications for licenses are open until the end of June. The group held its first event in Ithaca on May 23 at Northstar House, where people from all over the Southern Tier gathered to talk about their shared interest. This is what the cannabis industry should be all about, Batrowny said. “We can’t do it without a large impact in a grassroots way,” he said. “[Cornwell] own’s a radio station, I have a huge farm.
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We’re part of the community. That’s the way to get into it.” While licenses are still being granted, Batrowny said he anticipates Tompkins County will likely be a lot more grower heavy, rather than relying on retail. “This area will be really heavy on cultivation,” he said. “New York City probably as much, you’re not going to find a lot of farmland.” Cornwell echoed that, comparing it to census data. “It’s all conjecture now, but if you have a dense population you’re going to see a lot of retail, and in rural places you’ll see more growers,” he said. Batrowny said that’s supported by already existing farming infrastructure in the more rural areas of the Southern Tier. Ithaca and Tompkins County will likely be a healthy mix of cultivation and retail, as city officials have already expressed interest in bringing retail shops to town and the Commons, while the more rural areas of the county will be better for growing. So far the interest has been high locally, with Batrowny said their events drawing full houses of business owners, press, policy makers and people just generally interested in learning more. Indeed, this was reflected at the May 23 meeting, where Acting Mayor Laura Lewis was in attendance, as well as people already working in the hemp industry and people looking to make a change from their current job. “People are excited,” Batrowny said. Cornwell qualified that excitement, however, adding that not everyone trusts the new industry. “People are nervous, too” Cornwell said. “I think it’s going to take conditioning to convert the illicit market. You got guys who make a lot of money, they have a big shoebox, so to speak. That’s why [Southern Tier Cannabis Committee] is so important. The only way is education, so people know there’s another way.” This touches on an important part of the legislation and licensing process. There is a 25–31,
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A l l a n G a n d e l m a n i s t h e f o u n d e r o f N e w Yo r k Hemp Oil and Head & Heal and the fou nder and p r e s i d e n t o f t h e N e w Yo r k C a n n a b i s P r o c e s s o r s a n d G r ow e r s A s s o c i at i o n . ( P h o t o : P r ov i d e d)
