Starting in February and proceeding through to mid-April, Cultural Affairs and the Biology Department at SUNY Orange are sponsoring Cannabis ~ Changing A Weed to A Resource, a series of five lectures that are free & open to the public.

The first is being given by the First Deputy Director of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Patrick McKeage. Entitled New York State Cannabis Program Overview, the presentation on Monday, February 7, 2022 begins at 7pm and is available for attendees through zoom ~ https://sunyorange.zoom.us/j/99564205853

McKeage’s lecture will offer information and explanations on these topics:

• Update on the state of cannabis programs in New York State
• Implementation and history of the cannabinoid hemp program, expansion of the medical marijuana program and creation of the adult-use cannabis program.
• Policy issues and concerns for creating a new regulated industry
•          Social and economic equity
•          Public health and safety
•          Taxation and finance
• Overview of the new Office of Cannabis Management
• Community outreach and opportunities for engagement

Following this presentation, questions are welcome and will be monitored by Monty Vacura, the Botany professor at SUNY Orange who has developed a new course curriculum on the many aspects of Cannabis.

Patrick McKeage is very well-experienced in working in state government. For the past four years, he worked for the NYS Department of Health, Medical Marijuana Program on the Cannabis file. Indeed, he has extensive knowledge of Cannabis policy and regulations and has been managing the operational logistics associated with implementing the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act and creating the new Office of Cannabis Management. Recently, McKeage led the implementation of the Department’s Cannabinoid Hemp Program assisting with the development of the regulations, licensing system, website, stakeholder engagement, and guidance documents in accordance with the statute. He has amassed a deep understanding of NYS Government from previous roles at the Office of General Services and the Department of Taxation and Finance as well as working in the New York State Assembly and at an Albany-based government relations firm.