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This guest column is from Matthew Krupp, the co-founder of Canterra, Western New York’s first cannabis e-commerce platform and delivery service. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of NY Cannabis Insider.
In the three years since the passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), the cannabis industry and communities across New York have faced frustrating and uneven results.
As the owner of Canterra, Western New York’s first cannabis e-commerce and delivery platform, I’ve struggled against numerous obstacles, the most pressing being the impending expiration of our Temporary Delivery Operator (TDO) license, which the state has repeatedly denied extending.
This is unacceptable. Our TDO license is crucial to keeping Canterra in business. Without it, we are forced to shut our doors. Despite the challenges, we initially felt grateful for the opportunity provided by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). However, the lack of guidance and communication from this organization has been nothing short of infuriating. We are trying to help further the goals of the MRTA, but the OCM seems determined to undermine our efforts at every turn.
Over the past year, Canterra has created 45 jobs, contributed millions to local economies through taxes and farm revenue, and delivered legal, safe cannabis to 10,000 customers across the region. With a simple decision, the OCM could help us continue this positive impact. Instead, they are opting to shut us down, leading to the loss of every job we created in just a month.
These jobs support families and contribute significantly to local economies around WNY. The 40 farmers who rely on our partnerships will have to collect the $250,000 worth of product we currently hold, losing a vital income source. This disruption will ripple through their operations, potentially causing severe financial harm.
Furthermore, our customers, many of whom lack access to dispensaries, will likely return to the grey market, supporting the very unregulated shops we have been fighting to shut down. This regression destroys the progress we’ve made in promoting a legal and safe cannabis market. The state is taking steps backwards.
To add insult to injury, we were ready to start construction on our retail store in December 2023, but political interference forced us to relocate, making us restart the entire process. We still haven’t begun construction due to this and the litigation delays caused by injunctions levied against the OCM.
I would also point out that the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary delivery guidance explicitly states that TDO licenses expire after 12 months unless granted an extension. Why mention the possibility of extensions if there was no intention to allow them? This misleading guidance has caused unnecessary confusion and distress for operators like us who have been desperately trying to comply and thrive under this constantly changing landscape.
Adding to the inconsistency, the OCM granted pre-operational conditional dispensaries an additional window to complete construction due to enhanced regional options and unforeseen litigation delays that prevented them from becoming operational. We are in the same position, yet no extension is being offered to us. This double standard is not only unfair but also detrimental to the very objectives the MRTA aims to achieve.
The OCM’s refusal to communicate or collaborate is appalling. The legal cannabis industry is still in its infancy. We could have worked together to build a thriving, regulated market. Instead, the OCM’s negligence and obstruction are driving us out of business.
The potential benefits of extending our TDO license far outweigh any imagined or perceived drawbacks. By allowing Canterra to continue operating, the OCM would not only preserve jobs and support local farmers, but also reinforce the MRTA’s objectives of establishing a regulated and safe cannabis market.
Despite the initial opportunities, the OCM’s complete lack of communication and support feels like a betrayal. Our commitment to the MRTA’s goals remains strong, but the OCM’s actions are making it impossible to succeed. We deserve — and demand — better.
We hope that by voicing our frustration, the OCM and other stakeholders will realize the critical importance of businesses like Canterra. With the OCM’s support, we could continue to create jobs, support local economies, and provide safe, legal cannabis to our community. It’s time for the OCM to step up and fulfill their responsibilities to the industry and the people of New York.