REGION — New York became the 15th state to legalize adult-use marijuana in a sweeping legalization bill passed on March 31, and now the path to implementation begins.

The state established the Office of Cannabis Management, which will be charged with enforcing a comprehensive regulatory framework governing medical, adult-use and cannabinoid hemp.

It will be governed by a five-member board, with three members appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and one appointment by each house.

They will need to weed through the rules and regulations, such as applications and permitting, zoning laws and other issues.

Attorney David Holland, who lives in New York City and Narrowsburg, has been working on the legalization of cannabis for over 20 years.

He is the Executive and Legal Director of Empire State NORML and co-founded the New York City and Hudson Valley Cannabis Industry Associations.

When the New York State Legislature was considering the marijuana legislation, Holland was involved in commenting and giving guidance.

“I was happy to see it,” he said of the bill's passage. “While not perfect, it is a very all-encompassing bill and one of the most comprehensive that I've seen in the country.”

The bill also expands New York State's existing medical marijuana and cannabinoid hemp programs, and provides licensing for marijuana producers, distributors, retailers, and other actors in the cannabis market.

Tax collections from the adult-use cannabis program are projected to reach $350 million annually. Additionally, there is the potential for this new industry to create 30,000 to 60,000 new jobs across the state, according to a press release from the governor's office.

Holland sees it as an opportunity for the area; not only will it create jobs and economic development, but also it opens up employment for people with prior marijuana criminal records.

“It will drive discretionary spending—people who are investing in rent, buying cars and paying taxes,” he said. “All of that will be a tremendous boon to Sullivan County, above and beyond what just a retail shop may allow.”

The new law also creates a social and economic equity program to assist individuals disproportionately impacted by cannabis enforcement that want to participate in the industry.

“The enforcement law of marijuana under the penal code was so severe and disproportionate,” Holland said, adding that 87.5 percent of all cannabis arrests in New York were of people of color. “In eliminating that you're going to see the ripple effect through the community.”