NY CAURD Coalition formed to educate, assist cannabis entrepreneurs throughout the state
Rather than wait on the state to provide the resources, training and other opportunities it promised for entrepreneurs in the emerging legal cannabis market, a group of business owners have formed a coalition that seeks to educate and galvanize the state’s future marijuana retailers.
Jayson and Britni Tantalo recently helped create the NY CAURD Coalition to teach leadership skills, business basics, and marketing strategies to those interested in entering the industry, and to “help legacy transition into the legal market,” said Jayson, who co-owns Flower City Hydroponics and is seeking a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) license along with Britni.
Jayson Tantalo is a co-founder of the NY CAURD Coalition, and operates Flower City Hydroponics. He and his wife Britni have applied to receive a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license.
The group’s other co-founders include CAURD applicants Jeremy Rivera, a construction consultant, safety instructor and co-owner of Kush Culture Industries, and Coss Marte, who founded CONBODY fitness studio in New York City and CONBUD.
Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider newsletter
Not everything the Office of Cannabis Management promised is coming to fruition, Rivera told NY Cannabis Insider, “so we have to create a system where we’re at the forefront.”
Jeremy Rivera is a construction consultant, safety instructor and former gang member who has applied for a retail cannabis dispensary license in New York.
“We want to make this into generational wealth, but unless we’re working together and creating a strong network, once the big players come in – big money is going to push out little money,” he said.
There were more than 900 applicants for the state’s CAURD program last year, and so far the OCM has only awarded 28 of its 150 available licenses to individuals.
Marte sees each of those 900 applicants as a future coalition member.
“Even if people don’t get accepted, the majority will move forward and get into the industry anyway,” he said, adding that the OCM is aware of the group’s intentions and is “extremely supportive of it.”
“It’s more of a layup for them,” he said, adding that so far, the coalition has secured partnerships with cannabis technology companies Dutchie and Weedmaps,
Coss Marte founded CONBODY fitness studio in New York City and CONBUD. He hopes to secure a retail cannabis dispensary license and employ ex-convicts, as he does at his gym.
Currently, the group has around 60 members, the majority being CAURD applicants and licensees, as well as a few advocates and attorneys, Marte said.
They hope to continue recruiting as they roll out educational events and meetups over the next few months, including an invitation-only event in the Bronx later this month.
“A lot of these people have found us, it’s very organic,” said Britni. “They don’t know where to go … they don’t know what to do, where to get information, and this coalition gives them that.”
Britni Tantalo is a co-founder of the NY CAURD Coalition, and runs Flower City Hydroponics with her husband Jayson. The two hope to obtain a Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license from New York State.
“Our main tagline is ‘collaboration over competition.’” she said. “This is our dream, this is everything for us. So it makes sense that we would come together.”
No Byline Policy
Editorial Guidelines
Corrections Policy
Source