Hundreds Of New York Weed Licenses Unblocked As Fed Judge Rejects Out-Of-State Applicants' Discrimination Claims

Federal Judge Anne M. Nardacci rejected a legal challenge on Friday to New York state's marijuana licensing program brought in December by two California applicants who argued that the program unconstitutionally discriminates against out-of-state residents. 

Two companies, Variscite New York Four LLC and Variscite New York Five LLC, filed the lawsuit against New York’s Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) arguing that the cannabis licensing program unfairly favors state residents, in violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause. Judge Nardacci said that allowing licensed businesses to operate is in the public interest and outweighs concerns raised in the lawsuit, reported Breitbart.

 The ruling could result in the issuance of hundreds of licenses in New York. 

Nardacci said the Dormant Commerce Clause does not apply to the federally illegal cannabis trade and should stop states from creating measures to limit interstate commerce in the absence of rules from Congress. 

The judge's decision came shortly after Governor Kathy Hochul called the state’s cannabis rollout a "disaster."

N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James (D) praised the ruling, stating "This is an important victory in our efforts to ensure that disproportionately impacted communities are given their fair share in the legal cannabis industry." 

See Also: Another Legal Battle Erupts Over Cannabis Licensing Process in New York

Ending Youth Vaping 

Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Health recently announced it will accelerate its effort to reduce vaping among youth, aiming to eliminate it fully, reported Union-Sun & Journal.

"The dangers of e-cigarettes is the amount of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, contained in them," Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood said. "The amount of THC in a marijuana cigarette could be as low as three percent. In e-cigarettes that can be increased by adjusting the controls on the device to eighty or ninety percent."

Recently published research revealed that THC-dominant joints delivered 19 to 28 milligrams of THC per cigarette, the CBD-dominant versions each delivered 90 to 100 milligrams of CBD, 200 to 400% more of the dominant cannabinoid.

The DOH added that the majority of e-liquids contain nicotine, which has negative impacts on our health, especially in the case of adolescents and young adults.

"I would tell any student or young adult to be cautious about taking anything offered to them," Hood said. "You don't know what you're getting."

See also: Lawsuit Alleges Bias In New York Cannabis Equity Program, Lawyer Slams ‘Absurd And Offensive' Claims

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