New York Ban on Hemp Flower Sales Destroys Farmers’ Revenue Potential

In November of 2020, the state of New York released its regulations concerning hemp, and much to the surprise and chagrin of hemp farmers in the state, the new regulations outlawed the sale of industrial hemp flower.

The hemp flower market is lucrative for farmers, and many small, independent operations in the state grow specifically for the flower market. And just as their harvest was coming in last year, farmers were aghast when the state shut down the market and the revenue potential farmers were counting on.

As one might imagine, hemp farmers in New York want desperately to get this rule overturned. One such farmer is Allan Gandelman. He is a hemp farmer and owner of Main Street Farms and the CBD brand, Head & Heal. He is also the founder and president of the New York Cannabis Growers and Processors Association.

On this episode of the podcast, we talk to Gandelman about New York's ban on hemp flower sales and what effect that will have on the industry and the farming community. We also talk about the work he and other farmers in the state are doing to change the law.

Links

Head & Heal
https://headandheal.com/

New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association
https://nycgpa.org

Hemp Flower Legal Defense Fund
https://gofund.me/44d963bf

A 2012 Lancaster Farming Story about Allan Gandelman’s aquaponics operation:
https://www.lancasterfarming.com/news/northern_edition/farming-fish-and-greens/article_95303b88-c849-5163-b12d-8189c051d350.html

News Nuggets

Montana bill aims to separate state's hemp industry from legal marijuana

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/bill-aims-to-separate-states-hemp-industry-from-legal-marijuana/article_0451a664-725e-51fa-89d0-4af5cd831156.html

Growers back checkoff program for industrial hemp

https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/growers-back-checkoff-program-for-industrial-hemp

3M eyes hemp for adhesives, packaging replacements — even growing new organs

https://hempindustrydaily.com/3m-eyes-hemp-for-adhesives-packaging-replacements-even-growing-new-organs/

Special thanks to our sponsor IND HEMP

https://www.indhemp.com/