2024 Cannabis Industry Power Players

Neil M. Kaufman is the managing member of Kaufman McGowan PLLC, corporate and securities counsel to the Cannabis Industry™ and one of the leading corporate cannabis law firms in New York and the United States. Mr. Kaufman has over 40 years of corporate and securities law experience and over ten years of cannabis industry experience, and has participated in over $2 billion of cannabis-industry transactions.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
Lack of financing due to 2-tier system restrictions.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Cannabis is a business similar to businesses generally, with additional legal and regulatory complexity. But it is still a business, not a golden ticket.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
First stability, then growth, then prosperity.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
Safe, tested weed is available.

Charles King, CEO and co-founder of Housing Works, Inc., oversees a nonprofit that provides housing, health care, legal aid, and more to homeless individuals, particularly those with HIV/AIDS. Housing Works Cannabis Co. is NYC’s first legal recreational cannabis dispensary. It aims to support those affected by the war on drugs by offering training programs for justice-involved individuals to gain business skills and apply for licenses.

Angelo Kitkas is the president and founder of Flower Power Dispensers. He was an electrician for over 20 years. He has had a love for the “flower” since the early ’90s. In 2004 he got into some trouble and was arrested with a cannabis charge which made him the perfect candidate for the CAURD license. He opened Flower Power Dispensers 20 years later, in April 2024.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
I believe the most important issue we face is shutting down the illegal shops that could potentially be putting harmful products on the streets or to minors. I feel we should also educate our communities on the differences between buying from illegal stores vs. legal.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Have patience, it is a long process. You must also have a love and passion for this industry in order to thrive in it.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
My hope is that we can continue to open more legal stores.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
I love that 4% of every store goes back to the community, and people are no longer being arrested for enjoying cannabis.

State Senator Liz Krueger was first elected to the New York State Senate in 2002, and is the chair of the senate finance committee. She is a strong advocate for women’s rights, tenants’ rights, affordable housing, improved access to health care, social services, environmental sustainability, and public education. She has made reforming and modernizing New York State’s governmental processes, electoral system, and tax policy central goals of her legislative agenda. Before her election, Sen. Krueger worked for 15 years as associate director of the Community Food Resource Center (CFRC), directing its efforts to expand access to government programs for low-income New Yorkers. Prior to that, Sen. Krueger was the founding director of the New York City Food Bank, building that organization into one that now serves an estimated 5.4 million meals each year.

Mitch Kulick has been a lawyer for longer than he cares to admit. Having been a lawyer in Big Law and the SEC, general counsel of a NYC hedge fund and the country’s first commercial cannabis testing lab in Oakland, Mitch has finally found his dream job. Representing start-up cannabis companies throughout the supply chain and the investors behind them is the culmination of 30+ years as a legal advisor and as a fan of the plant.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The surge of illicit shops, coupled with hefty taxation at both state and federal levels, alongside the widespread availability of intoxicating hemp products in gas stations and convenience stores, poses pressing challenges. Relief is imminent with New York State eliminating the burdensome potency tax and the DEA signaling intent to reschedule marijuana. That leaves prioritizing enforcement against illicit activities and purveyors of intoxicating hemp products as the most urgent issue facing the NYS cannabis industry.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Get involved! Explore opportunities regardless of their level, engage actively, persist, and deliver quality work. I was recently interviewing candidates for the GM at The Plant, Yonkers’ first legal dispensary and one candidate stood out. Kieondre’s journey into cannabis began humbly as a budtender in Colorado after graduating college in 2014. Through dedication, he ascended the ranks, is knowledgeable about all aspects of the business, and is now a trusted daily confidant and invaluable asset.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I hope that the future of New York cannabis looks like the staff, customer base, and product offerings of a dispensary that I recently visited in Rochester. While there, I encountered people from all walks of life, all of which emanated positivity and a love of the Plant. Also, the product mix was truly a vast array of new NY-created products with a smattering of quality out-of-state brands. The future should be inclusive

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
Last week, at the grand opening of The Plant, Yonkers’ first legal dispensary, I was amazed by parents accompanying their adult children, eager to understand their cannabis choices. They sought education and emphasized the importance of legal, safe purchases. This reality is an important part of the beginning of the end of cannabis prohibition in the state of New York and of the unjust stigma surrounding cannabis, a plant.

Joe Lustberg is a leader in the fintech industry with extensive knowledge of financial products and cannabis. Joe is a born and raised New Yorker with a passion for cannabis and financing. As the CEO of Upwise Capital, Joe oversees the cannabis and alternative financing division of the firm. He is also a partner in Mottz Only Cannabis Dispensary on Long Island. Joe is very involved in the New York cannabis market in many aspects.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The rollout of retail cannabis stores and the lack of real estate available for cannabis operators in New York. As well as the thousands of illegal cannabis shops throughout the boroughs, which the illicit and legal cannabis cultivators and processors on the West Coast and California are supplying.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
The cannabis industry is not just about smoking weed and making money, it’s a complex and rapidly evolving field with numerous sectors and job roles. Understanding the industry’s nuances is crucial before venturing into it. Running a cannabis business is not as easy as it looks and the green rush is not the reality in the cannabis industry. Cannabis is very compliant and overly taxed, it is a difficult industry to operate a profitable business.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I hope to see New York retail built out shortly, as well as indoor quality cannabis flower in the market grown in New York, by NY cultivars. I also hope Upwise Capital can convince more lenders and investors to enter the New York cannabis market. The rescheduling of cannabis will impact 280E and hopefully will bring more capital into cannabis.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
New York has made many mistakes but has made many important policies with the legalization of cannabis in New York to try and help social equity licenses succeed. Cannabis brings New Yorkers together, provides health benefits, and brings in additional income to businesses in the surrounding area. It is known that when a customer stops at a cannabis dispensary, there’s a high chance they stop at a neighboring business for lunch, drink, etc…

Sean is the founder of Mottz Only, a CAURD dispensary license set to open in Hampton Bays in early 2025. He’s co-founder and partner of Upwise Capital, a debt capital marketplace for the cannabis industry. Mottz Only, his next brand, ignites your New York state of mind, celebrating the rich Italian-American heritage and timeless charm of New York’s bygone era, with a name that represents the fire-gassy weed and cheesy goodness we cherished growing up.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?Access to funding and high start-up costs plague most licensees, who struggle to secure capital for cultivation or dispensary operations. The state’s CAURD funding program fell short, forcing entrepreneurs to give away equity instead of securing well-structured debt deals. First-hand experience reveals the significant start-up costs and barriers to entry in the cannabis industry. I also feel the OCM needs to control the number of licenses it issues to ensure a healthy market.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Educate yourself about the cannabis plant. Network and attend industry events. Gain hands-on experience to understand the day-to-day operations of the industry. Be adaptable, as the industry is constantly evolving, with changing regulations and market trends. Be patient and persistent: breaking into the cannabis industry can take time and effort. Stay dedicated to your goals and don’t be discouraged by lots of setbacks. Perseverance is the key to success in this competitive field.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I hope New York’s cannabis industry becomes a model for social equity, sustainability, and innovation. By prioritizing diverse ownership, environmentally friendly practices, and cutting-edge research, New York can create a thriving, inclusive market that benefits communities and drives economic growth. With smart regulations and collaboration between stakeholders, New York has the potential to lead the nation in establishing a responsible, prosperous cannabis industry.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
Legalizing cannabis in NY has helped to release the negative stigma and perception of cannabis. As well as, made it easier accessible to consumers who normally may not have had the access. The state has also generated significant tax revenue which will hopefully be reinvested in education, drug treatment and social equity programs. Additionally, the legal market has created new jobs and business opportunities, helping to boost the economy.

In 2014, Coss Marte launched CONBODY, a prison style bootcamp with over 70 thousand clients and 50+ formerly incarcerated employees who teach fitness classes. He’s featured in 300+ major media outlets such as CNN, NYTimes, and is a four time TED Talk speaker. He launched CONBUD, which hires formerly incarcerated individuals affected by the war on drugs. Coss’s mission is to build an impactful presence in the cannabis market in New York State through his dispensaries.

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
The most urgent issue in the NYS market has to be education and knowledge of the industry from the general public. Many people don’t know where to properly look for legal dispensaries, which affects the whole chain.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
Read, read, read! Many people don’t know where to start and I would recommend taking a look at the office of cannabis management’s website to take a deeper dive into whatever sector they may want to get into.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
I want New York to be the model for the country and the world of how justice should be modeled. What NYS is doing has never been done and it’s real reparations!

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
I’ve seen New York’s cannabis industry obtain more employment opportunities, more tax dollars being generated to give back to communities that were affected by the War on Drugs and allowing individuals who’ve been affected by the system lead this industry into the right direction.

Leeann Mata is a strong advocate for the legalization of cannabis not just for medicinal purposes, but also for people who want to take advantage of the other benefits of the plant. Her objective is to give people exhilaration without the need to smoke all the time; to help people struggling with conditions such as anxiety; and to support New York farmers. Her primary duties will include overall store promotion and marketing, including by establishing

What do you feel is the most urgent issue facing the New York-Cannabis industry?
To make this a viable industry in New York, they have to eliminate the illegal shops. They also have to allow us to market, the only way we will be competitive is if the community understands what’s legal and what’s illegal.

Do you have any cannabis industry-specific advice for people looking to break into the field?
My advice is to do your research on every aspect. If you’re trying to cultivate, do your research on the life cycle of plants to understand the strands. If you’re trying to get your license to be a dispensary owner, understand the law, understand the requirements as far as marketing as far as the build out.

What are your hopes for the future of the cannabis industry in New York?
My hope for the cannabis industry is that they create legislation where seniors can get refunded for their cannabis medicine from the insurance companies. My second hope for the New York City cannabis industry is that the legal markets educate people on the plant. People understand it’s not just smoking. Cannabis is pain rubs, there are vapes and there are Gummies. There’s an array of different products that can help manage pain as well as manage anxiety.

What are some of the positive impacts you’ve seen from legalizing cannabis in New York?
As a dispensary owner, I had several people coming with cancer looking for alternatives to the medicine. Whether it’s needing help eating and sleeping, it has been amazing. I also see a lot of seniors happy about the legalization of cannabis. Now they can get tested products.

Sarah McCandless is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Suffolk Credit Union, overseeing finance, accounting, and compliance. She also leads Suffolk Insurance Agency and pioneered cannabis banking initiatives. A Boston College graduate and certified public accountant, McCandless is active in the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County and the Sag Harbor School District. She mentors staff and collaborates closely with Suffolk Credit Union’s leadership.