Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Cannabis is officially legal in New York State as of 3/31/21. The article below explains in detail how it was signed into law, as well as how it’s going to be taxed, regulated, and managed by the state government.

Governor Cuomo signs bill legalizing marijuana 

Besides what you’d already need to start any other kind of business, the key point of difference for launching a cannabis-related business in New York is a license. There are many different types of licenses available to apply for in New York, dependent on several key factors such as business size, interaction with cannabis products, and wholesale vs. consumer distribution.

The article below explains the different types of licenses in detail:
‍New York’s Recreational Marijuana Landscape: Key Takeaways | The Rodman Law Group, LLC - JDSupra

If you’d like to learn more about the legalization of cannabis as well as the new regulatory laws that will help maintain the cannabis industry in New York, the document below highlights in detail the state government’s perspective on cannabis as well as the expected impact of legalization on the state.

‍marijuana_legalization_impact_assessment.pdf (ny.gov)

Thanks to the legalization of cannabis, the state government has created the Office of Cannabis Management, a new agency dedicated to help consumers and businesses understand and gain support under the law. If you have questions about legalization or its impact on your business, you can either email them at info@ocm.ny.gov or visit the website below to learn more:

‍Office of Cannabis Management | Office of Cannabis Management (ny.gov)

To combat federal interference in cannabis related businesses, Governor Cuomo as well as 20 other state governors have urged Congress to pass the SAFE Banking Act. This act would allow federal banks to provide services to state-licensed cannabis-related businesses without penalty or federal intervention. The bill has broad bi-partisan support and had made it through the House of Representatives in 2019 before stalling. It has passed through the House again in 2021, and is currently awaiting judgement from the United States senate. To learn more about this bill, click the link below:

Governor Cuomo urges Congress to pass the SAFE Banking Act

Although the law allows for recreational use now, there are more regulations, policies and infrastructure that is are still in development. Dispensaries aren’t expected to open until more than a year from now.

A staffing service is a company that helps businesses to find and hire qualified employees.

Staffing services can provide a variety of services, including:

• Temporary and contract staffing: Staffing services can provide businesses with temporary and contract employees to fill short-term or seasonal needs.
• Permanent staffing: Staffing services can help businesses to find and hire permanent employees.
•  Executive search: Staffing services can help businesses to find and hire high-level executives.

There are a number of different types of staffing services, including:

• General staffing: General staffing services provide a wide range of staffing services, including temporary, contract, and permanent staffing.
• Specialized staffing: Specialized staffing services focus on a specific industry or occupation, such as IT staffing, healthcare staffing, or accounting staffing. NYSCC focuses on the cannabis industry both plants touching and ancillary.
• Executive search: Executive search firms specialize in finding and hiring high-level executives.

There are a number of benefits to using a staffing service, including:

• Access to a large pool of qualified candidates: Staffing services have access to a large pool of qualified candidates, which can make it easier and faster for businesses to find the right employees. NYS Cannabis Connect has access to over 5000 New Yorkers looking for work and that number grows monthly. That’s 10% of the expected cannabis workforce in NYS.
• Expertise in recruiting and hiring: Staffing services have the expertise and experience to recruit and hire qualified employees quickly and efficiently. NYS Cannabis Connect has helped retail dispensers staff their stores quickly and efficiently and the diverse community that is NY cannabis culture.
• Reduced administrative burden: Staffing services can take care of the administrative tasks associated with hiring, such as screening resumes, conducting interviews, and checking references.
• Flexibility: Staffing services can provide businesses with the flexibility to scale their workforce up or down as needed.

Benefits of permanent staffing:

• Increased employee loyalty and commitment: Permanent employees are more likely to be loyal and committed to your company than temporary employees. This is because they have a vested interest in your company's success.
• Improved employee retention: Permanent employees are more likely to stay with your company for a longer period of time than temporary employees. This can help you to reduce the costs associated with hiring and training new employees.
• Access to a wider pool of talent: When you hire permanent employees, you have access to a wider pool of talent. This is because you are not limited to candidates who are currently looking for temporary work.
• Increased employee productivity: Permanent employees are typically more productive than temporary employees. This is because they have more time to learn your company's culture and processes.

Benefits of temporary hires:

• Flexibility: Temporary hires can provide you with the flexibility to scale your workforce up or down as needed. This is especially beneficial for businesses that experience seasonal fluctuations in demand.
• Reduced costs: Temporary hires can be a more cost-effective option than permanent employees, especially for short-term or seasonal needs. This is because you do not have to pay for benefits or other associated costs.
• Quick access to talent: Temporary hires can provide you with quick access to talent. This is especially beneficial if you need to fill a position quickly or if you are having difficulty finding qualified candidates for a permanent position.

Here are some tips for working with a staffing service:

• Be clear about your needs: Be clear with the staffing service about your staffing needs, including the types of positions you need to fill, the skills and experience that you are looking for, and your budget.
• Be responsive: Be responsive to the staffing service's communications. This will help to ensure that the staffing service can find and hire qualified candidates quickly and efficiently.
• Be flexible: Be flexible when working with a staffing service. The staffing service may not be able to find candidates who meet all of your requirements exactly. Be willing to compromise on some of your requirements in order to find the best candidates for your business.

Staffing services can be a valuable resource for businesses of all sizes. By working with a staffing service, or an implementation team like NYS Cannabis Connect, businesses can find and hire qualified employees quickly and efficiently, while reducing the administrative burden associated with hiring.