Two more Ulster farms get licenses to grow pot

KINGSTON, N.Y. » Two more Ulster County farms have been granted conditional licenses to grow adult recreational-use marijuana, bringing to four the total number of farms approved under the state’s “Seeding Opportunity Initiative” to cultivate products that will be sold in dispensaries owned by justice-involved New Yorkers by the end of this year.

The licenses, issued Thursday by the New York State Cannabis Control Board, were granted to Hepworth Farms in Milton and to Dennis Van Wagenen of Van Wagenen Farms in Kingston.

The two were among 58 licenses granted in the third round of approvals by the Cannabis Control Board as it rushes to get farms approved in time to take advantage of this year’s growing season.

“We’re moving quickly, knowing that the growing season is short,” said Chris Alexander, head of the Office of Cannabis Management, during Thursday’s board meeting.

In addition to the two Ulster County farms, the Cannabis Control Board approved nine conditional licenses to farms in Columbia County and two licenses to farms in Dutchess County.

Two other Ulster County farms, Hurd Farm LLC in Clintondale and Oak Queens LLC in Rosendale, were granted licenses in April.

Statewide, the Cannabis Control Board has issued licenses to 146 growers across the state. Of those, four licenses have been issued to farmers in Ulster County, 11 to Dutchess County farmers and 14 to Columbia County farmers.

The conditional licenses issued are valid for two years and allow cultivators to grow up to one acre (43,560 square feet) of cannabis outdoors or 25,000 square feet in a greenhouse.

Over 200 applications have been submitted to the Office of Cannabis Management since it began accepting applications on May 15. The deadline to submit an application is June 30.