U Rockland County Enterprise Jnl experiences
January 25, 2024 – A lawsuit filed yesterday in america District Courtroom for the Northern District of New York challenges the benefits given to girls and minority candidates in retail gross sales licenses by the Workplace of Administration of Hashish. The plaintiff, Valencia AG, LLC, based mostly in Jamesville, NY, owns “flippantly pigmented males who is perhaps greatest described as Caucasian or white males,” in accordance with the grievance. Valencia submitted an software to the OCM on October 12, 2023 searching for a microbusiness hashish license. Not falling into any of the classes for EEA standing, Valencia was unable to request any form of precedence standing in its software.
Believing that precedence could be given to candidates who licensed that they owned or rented an area that was instantly able to open, and based mostly on representations made by OCM, the plaintiff rented a storefront for $2,000 per thirty days, plus utilities and insurance coverage.
In January, when the OCM revealed the listing of candidate hierarchy based mostly on the “randomized” however prioritized and weighted collection of candidates, the actor ranked 2,042 out of about 2,200 “operationally prepared” candidates. Based mostly on statements made by OCM, the plaintiff believes that it’s unlikely that his software shall be reviewed or obtain a license.
The grievance says that the desire or precedence given to girls and minorities, over white males, violates the Equal Safety Clause of america Structure. The plaintiff additionally prices that the upper software charges paid by white males over girls and minorities additionally violate america Structure.
For aid, the Plaintiff seeks: (1) preliminary and everlasting prejudice in opposition to the preferences given to girls and minorities; (2) a prohibition in opposition to OCM processing any purposes for hashish licenses the place these purposes declare EEA standing based mostly on girls or minority possession; (3) the revocation and cancellation of licenses granted to EEA standing licensees when they’re based mostly on girls or minority property; (4) a refund of upper software charges paid by candidates unable to say EEA standing based mostly on girls or minority possession; and (5) a prohibition in opposition to totally different tariff schemes based mostly on EEA standing.
The case has been assigned to United States District Courtroom Choose Gary L. Sharpe, Case No.: 5:24-cv-00116-GLS-DJS. The plaintiff is represented by Robert Purcell, Esq., of Syracuse, New York.
Breaking Information; Opening of dispensaries; authorized dispute; License
