A group speaking on behalf of the legal weed sector has warned New York Governor Kathy Hochul's cannabis regulators that the existing licensed operators might face catastrophic outcomes if the number of pot stores were to grow dramatically.

"We believe that this approach, if implemented without proper analysis and stakeholder input, will have disastrous consequences for the fledgling industry and public health," Damien Cornwell said, president of the Cannabis Association of New York who also founded the Just Breathe cannabis shop in Binghamton.

The letter Cornwell wrote last Friday, April 12, was addressed to Cannabis Control Board Chairwoman Tremaine Wright and members of the Cannabis Advisory Board.

New York Currently Has 103 Licensed Cannabis Stores

Since the first permitted cannabis shop opened in December of 2022, Hochul and the state's authorities have been under fire for the sluggish and uneven rollout. Farmers were left with ruined marijuana harvests last year due to lawsuits delaying licensing and retail openings.

Since the legal matter was resolved last autumn, state authorities have permitted the establishment of dispensaries and increased the granting of licenses.

Up from 26 last November, 103 legal cannabis retailers have opened throughout the Empire State.

State officials have awarded almost 400 licenses for the cannabis industry so far this year, with over 100 of them being approved during the Cannabis Control Board meeting just last week.

READ NEXT: New York's Legal Marijuana Industry Hits New High, Reaches Over 100 Licensed Shops Across Empire State 

Industry Representative Advises Caution Before Overwhelming the Market

According to the New York Post, Cornwell suggested careful consideration rather than hastily flooding the emerging market.

In his statement, he firmly stated his belief that issuing licenses without fully comprehending the market's capacity might result in oversaturation, company failures, and unforeseen threats to public health.

"As the cannabis industry in New York is still in its early stages, many licensed retailers are already facing challenges competing with the illegal market," Cornwell stated. "Flooding the market with additional licenses exacerbates this problem and potentially leads to a wave of closures, undermining the state's social equity goals and leaving vulnerable entrepreneurs in an unsustainable market."

Cornwell has demanded that the Cannabis Advisory Board consult with relevant parties and do a comprehensive market study before deciding on any industry-altering policies.

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