New York State Government: Giving marijuana to customers as a "gift" is illegally sold

At present, New York State is establishing a legal market for recreational marijuana, and some companies are caught in the gray area of regulations, claiming that they are not selling marijuana, but giving marijuana as a gift to people when they buy other goods. The New York state says it is in a hurry and needs to stop doing so.

On Tuesday (Feb. 8), the New York State Office of Cannabis Management said it had sent letters to more than 20 businesses that illegally sold cannabis, asking them to immediately stop selling cannabis immediately or face fines and potential criminal charges that could affect their future license to sell cannabis, the Associated Press reported.

Chris Alexander, executive director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, said in a statement: "The New York state government is establishing a legal and regulated cannabis market to ensure the quality and safety of cannabis, and the illegal sale of cannabis has had a negative impact on our establishment of a legal cannabis market." ”

Last spring, New York State introduced recreational marijuana laws that don't address marijuana as a "gift" but allow for the "gratuitous transfer" of small amounts of marijuana.

Businesses that supply customers with cannabis insist they are legally selling it.

On Wednesday (Feb. 9), Hempsol CBD boss Jim Mackenzie said that while his store had not received any letters, he would no longer give marijuana "gifts" to customers who bought short sleeves and other clothing, ensuring that he would be able to obtain a new York state government's marijuana sales license in the future.

But MacKenzie argues that it's legal to give marijuana to customers as a "gift."

The New York State Office of Cannabis Administration warned in the letter that illegal sales include so-called "gifts" and that providing cannabis to customers when they purchase non-cannabis goods or non-cannabis services is also illegal sales of marijuana.

Last October, Tremaine Wright, president of the Cannabis Control Board in New York, warned of severe financial penalties for giving cannabis as a "gift" to customers while selling non-cannabis goods and providing non-cannabis services.

Happy Munkey, a New York City-based cannabis company, said the inclusion of cannabis "gifts" for illegal sales would cause underground sellers to abandon the idea of entering the future legal cannabis market.

(Compiler: HS)