A new bill filed today in the New York Senate would provide significant regulatory relief for small marijuana farmers, with the goal of making the legal cannabis market more accessible and sustainable for independent growers.
Senator Christopher Ryan (D) introduced the legislation, known as the “Small Cannabis Farmer Relief Act,” and it has been formally assigned to the Senate Rules Committee. The measure would amend state law to expand the allowable cultivation canopy size for distressed licensees and clarify several regulatory definitions surrounding marijuana production.
Under the proposal, qualifying growers would be allowed to increase their cultivation canopy to as much as 25,000 square feet of mixed light canopy if they cultivated marijuana in both 2022 and 2023, or up to 10 acres of outdoor canopy if grown in both of those years. No additional fees would be assessed for licensees expanding under the bill, aside from standard renewal costs.
To be eligible, a licensee must have been classified as a “distressed farmer licensee” and must verify cultivation activity during the 2022–2023 period. Microbusiness licensees meeting those conditions would also be allowed to expand. However, expanded canopy areas could not exceed the maximums set for adult-use cultivator licenses.
The legislation also provides updated definitions for terms such as “cultivation canopy,” “greenhouse,” “nursery area,” and “photosynthetic photon efficacy,” aiming to remove ambiguity that has created regulatory barriers for small operations.
If passed, the bill would take effect immediately and remain in force through December 31, 2028, unless renewed by the Legislature.
