Harris Beach Murtha attorney Jason W. Klimek recently participated in a Business of Cannabis virtual panel discussion hosted by the Rochester Business Journal and Daily Record. The discussion brought together local cannabis, legal and financial experts to examine the industry’s growth and the hurdles that come with it.
A Rochester Business Journal article about the event said the discussion revealed many are bullish on the cannabis industry. Cannabis sales in the state reached $162 million in July, a 10.4% increase from a year earlier and a 5.8% gain from June, according to Headset, a business intelligence and data analytics platform that tracks the legal cannabis industry.
Jason, co-leader of the firm’s Cannabis Industry Team, discussed the legal landscape, including disputes between municipalities and cannabis businesses over zoning requirements. Klimek noted that an appellate court ruling affirmed that the state’s Marihuana Regulation and Tax Act preempts local zoning laws in many cases.
“While dispensary owners may have to litigate such matters, the town may not have the final say, especially if there is state law,” Klimek said.
He also pointed to the need for greater collaboration between dispensary operators and the state Office of Cannabis Management, saying a lack of communication can create additional challenges for businesses navigating an evolving regulatory environment.
To read more about what was said at the virtual panel discussion, read the full RBJ article. (Subscription may be required.) MMJ Daily carried a similar story.
