10/29/2026
WITH AGREEMENT TO SEEK CHAPTER AMENDMENTS
BREAKING: NY CANNABIS WAGE BOARD SLATED FOR REMOVAL
Governor Kathy Hochul signed S10643 into law today, October 28, 2026, with an agreement to pursue chapter amendments in the upcoming legislative session.
According to the Governor's approval memorandum:
✅ The mandatory Labor Peace Agreement requirement will be repealed in full.
✅ The Cannabis Industry Wage Board will be removed through subsequent legislation.
⚠️ The Cannabis Control Board would gain discretion to prioritize adult-use license applications based on voluntary participation in a Labor Peace Agreement.
In her memorandum, Governor Hochul expressed concern that the wage board could increase costs for licensees and drive consumers toward the illicit market.
Important: The wage board's removal is not yet law. The agreed-upon chapter amendments must still be enacted.
NY Small Farma, who wrote a letter in July opposing the Board and its broad powers, will continue monitoring these developments and their implications for New York's small-farmer economic equity licensees. The Governor's decision to abolish the Board was the right move.
Source: Governor's Approval Memorandum No. 7, S10643, October 28, 2026.