A leading figure in New York’s legal medical marijuana scene has criticized Governor Kathy Hochul and state regulators, claiming they have unfairly hindered his business and others. Boris Jordan, founder and CEO of Curaleaf, helped establish one of the first “Seed to Seal” cannabis stores for medical patients in the state a decade ago.
In recent years, Jordan alleges that Hochul and the cannabis regulators have made it increasingly difficult to obtain licenses for adult use sales. He described their actions as destructive, claiming they’ve created a hostile environment for businesses that, according to him, once received encouragement to invest in the market.
“New York is deliberately targeting us and causing harm,” Jordan expressed. “They asked for our investment, yet now they seem intent on undermining us.
“To be frank, this is not what America stands for. This isn’t the country I remember. They invited us in, and now they’ve turned against us,” he continued.
For medical cannabis companies, converting a store for adult sales comes with high costs—up to $15 million for just three conversions, depending on revenue. Consequently, Jordan noted that six of the original ten licensed medical marijuana companies have opted out of entering the adult use market due to these financial burdens.
Jordan also criticized regulators for failing to address illegal cannabis products from other states that jeopardize licensed businesses. “The nation hasn’t lifted a finger about it,” he remarked, implying a sense of injustice.
He claimed that Albany is supporting applicants with past marijuana convictions over law-abiding entrepreneurs. “I’m not against competition; I’m against unfair competition,” he stated. “They’ve gone out of their way to exclude us from the market.”
On the flip side, social equity licensees are concerned that large, established companies like Curaleaf could dominate the market, jeopardizing their livelihoods. New York legalized medical cannabis in 2016 for various conditions and expanded it for adult use in 2021, officially launching this market in late 2022.
The number of patients prescribed medical cannabis in New York dropped from 150,000 in 2021 to just 95,000. Currently, there are only 38 medical cannabis clinics compared to 380 licensed adult-use shops.
Jordan has noted how companies originally licensed under the medical program have filed lawsuits against the state, protesting the financial demands required to access the broader adult market.
Meanwhile, the Cannabis Control Bureau is investigating licensed operators suspected of using out-of-state cannabis. Since last year, nearly 120 quarantines have been issued for products, with about 10% destroyed due to violations.
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has acknowledged allegations of unauthorized products entering the legal market, stating their commitment to maintaining market integrity. They plan to introduce a more robust sales tracking system in 2025 to enhance oversight.
In defense of the financial obligations placed on medical marijuana operators, Hochul’s office asserted that ensuring quality products for patients is a priority. “We must guarantee that patients receive safe, tested cannabis,” said Kassie White, Hochul’s spokesperson. She emphasized the importance of established operators in creating jobs and infrastructure within New York’s cannabis economy.
However, Jordan points out that the unique licenses granted to certain operators give them an advantage over other retail clinics, leading to concerns about pricing and fair competition.
