NYC NOW - June 5, 2023: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: June 5, 2023

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: A sluggish kick-off to New York's legal marijuana market strains some farmers, New York City officials enact safety measures for both tourists and residents partaking in Pride Month festivities, and tomorrow, New Jersey holds its primary elections.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WNYC. It's Monday, June 5th. Here's the morning headlines from Michael Hill. A slow start to New York's legal marijuana market. It's leaving some farmers holding the bag. WNYC's Tiffany Hansen has more. While state leaders always plan to gear up New York's marijuana market in stages,

dispensaries have debuted at a slower pace than expected. That means farmers who can only sell their cannabis through licensed retailers are feeling the pinch. There aren't enough retail outlets right now to sell the 300,000 pounds of marijuana farmers grew in the state last year, and another growing season is already underway. A November ruling by a federal judge temporarily barred New York from issuing dispensary licenses in parts of the state. That injunction was settled last week. The Office of Cannabis Management also took steps last month to boost demand by giving provision. approval to 50 new dispensary licenses.

Plans are also in the words for that would allow groups of growers to join with retail licensees to sell cannabis at farmers markets or festivals. New York City officials say they expect this month's pride celebrations to be as busy as they were before the pandemic. They're asking residents and tourists participating in pride gatherings to stay safe by traveling in groups, meeting in public, and communicating with each other. Philip Banks is the deputy mayor for public safety. He says law enforcement and the city are working to protect LGBTQ New Yorkers from hate crimes.

This is almost like evil at its purest form that people take actions against someone for who they are. And an attack or any type of venom against this community is an attack against society. The NYPD is also accepting requests to re-examine homicide cases, including cold cases, involving LGBTQ victims. New Jersey's primary election is tomorrow. New Jerseyans registered with either the Democratic or Republican parties are voting for their party's nominees to running November's general election. While it's too late to switch affiliations,

people who don't belong to either political party can still vote on local ballot questions. Municipal elections are happening in several counties. In-person voting on election day takes place from 6 at the morning until 8 at 9, the deadline to apply for a lot. mail-in ballot is 3 o'clock today, and the deadline to return mail ballots by secure dropbox is 8 o'clock tomorrow night. 57 and partly sunny now, partly sunny today in a high of 76, and then tomorrow a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day, for your top news headlines and occasional deep dives, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you this afternoon. Thank you.