Long Island hemp farmers get the green light to grow cannabis

Long Island hemp farmers got the green light to grow marijuana Tuesday after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill allowing them to obtain conditional licenses to cultivate cannabis.

News 12 Staff

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Feb 23, 2022, 3:17 AM

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Updated 960 days ago

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Long Island hemp farmers got the green light to grow marijuana Tuesday after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill allowing them to obtain conditional licenses to cultivate cannabis.

The goal of the bill is to fast track the state’s recreational marijuana program which had been moving slowly early on.

One owner of a hemp farm says he will certainly begin growing cannabis once he’s allowed.

Hemp farmer David Falkowski says he’s ready to start planting marijuana at his farm, Open Minded organics in Bridgehampton.

Falkowski says growing weed will earn him and his workers a lot of money.

“Marijuana products yield anywhere from four to 10 times fold in some places and the volume of product that's consumed is much higher,” said Falkowski.

The bill, signed by Gov. Hochul allows hemp farmers to apply for licenses to grow recreational weed for up to two years.

At the same time, the governor has proposed a $200 million program aimed at helping entrepreneurs of color get into the budding weed business through grants and loans.

Jessica Naissant, who owns Wake and Bake Cafe, a CBD store in Valley Stream, says Black and brown communities suffered unfairly when weed was illegal.