Cannabis Association of New York

What Cannabis Association of New York does

The Cannabis Association of New York (CANY), founded in 2019 and headquartered at 37 Huntington Street, Cortland, NY, is a private nonprofit trade association that functions as the self-described "Chamber of Commerce" for the New York cannabis industry. The association represents hundreds of member businesses stretching across the full seed-to-sale supply chain — cultivators, processors, retailers, delivery operators, microbusinesses, consumption lounges, distributors, laboratories, nurseries, cooperatives, and hemp operators — in every region of New York State. CANY also serves ancillary service providers (legal, insurance, banking, technology, testing, security) through a structured Gold/Silver/Bronze Patron sponsorship ecosystem of more than 20 corporate partners. Its stated mission is to advocate for a cannabis economy that "benefits small and midscale NYS businesses first" rather than large incumbents, with explicit positioning against industry consolidation and in favor of restorative community outcomes tied to the war on drugs.

CANY does not develop or sell proprietary technology products. Its underlying technology footprint is conventional association infrastructure: a WordPress-based website at cany.org serving as the self-serve membership acquisition, renewal, and account-management platform, a Mailchimp instance for newsletter distribution, and member collaboration channels including a Slack workspace, Google group, and weekly executive video calls. The association's "operating system" is human-led advocacy: it claims primary authorship of multiple New York cannabis laws and countless regulations implementing the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), engages the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) through formal open letters and public comments (notably on METRC seed-to-sale tagging, testing protocols, and Schedule III protective refund claims), and convenes members through policy committees, regional committees, an annual Lobby Day, and member-only events. President Damien Cornwell (also operator of Just Breathe, the first dispensary to open North of Manhattan under a CAURD license), Vice President Nicole N'diaye (Founder & CEO of NAHE, LLC), Vice President (Emeritus) Andrew M. Rosner (Co-Founder of HR Botanicals), and Board Member Franklin Henderson (Cornell Cooperative Extension) lead a 17-person organization that, as of 2025, has articulated a Vision 2025 strategy and 2025 Policy Platform to guide its ongoing engagement with New York regulators.

Name

Cannabis Association of New York

Legal name

Cannabis Association of New York, Inc.

Website

https://cany.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cannabis Association of New York (CANY) is a nonprofit trade association founded in 2019 that serves as the Chamber of Commerce for the New York cannabis industry, representing hundreds of licensed operators, hemp businesses, and ancillary service providers across the full seed-to-sale supply chain through membership dues, policy advocacy, and tiered corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult-Use (Recreational) Cannabis Dispensaries (CRANAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (CRANAFAB), Cannabis Accessories & Ancillary Products Wholesale (Vapes, Packaging, Hardware) (CRAOAIAH)

Keywords

• Cannabis industry advocacy
• Trade association services
• Policy advocacy
• Cannabis business networking
• Regulatory compliance support

Headquarters

HQ city

Cortland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CANY generates revenue through annual membership fees across tiered categories (Cultivator, Processor, Retail, Delivery, Microbusiness, Laboratory, Consumption Lounge, Nursery, Cooperative, Ancillary). Membership fees vary by category and are auto-renewed annually. The association also offers sponsorship tiers (Gold, Silver, Bronze Patron) as a complementary revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CANY is a New York State nonprofit trade association that delivers membership-based services to cannabis businesses. Members receive policy advocacy and government relations support, regulatory compliance guidance, peer networking through committees and events (including an annual Lobby Day), educational programming, and access to industry resources such as policy briefs and an OCM Document Tracker. The organization also offers tiered corporate sponsorship (Patron: Gold, Silver, Bronze) for ancillary and service-provider firms seeking visibility in the NY cannabis market.

Product overview

CANY is an industry trade association serving as the Chamber of Commerce for the New York cannabis industry. It provides membership-based services including advocacy, policy influence, educational programming, networking opportunities, and industry resources. CANY does not offer a technology product or software platform; its offerings consist of membership tiers for various cannabis business categories (Cultivator, Retail, Delivery, Microbusiness, Distributor, Processor, Laboratory, Consumption Lounge, Nursery, Cooperative, Ancillary Business), along with sponsorship opportunities. The organization facilitates government relations, public advocacy, and community engagement rather than technology products or SaaS offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CANY Membership
• Patron Sponsorship Program
• Annual Lobby Day and Member Events

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of member businesses represented across all regions of New York State and the full cannabis supply chain

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

49 partnerships are on record, tiered gold patron (flagship sponsor), silver patron (core sponsor), bronze patron (supporting sponsor), listed partner and third-party service provider.

• Dutchiegold patron (flagship sponsor)OthersDutchie is a cannabis technology platform providing dispensary point-of-sale and e-commerce solutions. Listed as a Gold Patron sponsor on CANY's website, indicating a financial/sponsorship relationship that provides visibility and association benefits.
• Bond, Schoeneck & Kinggold patron (flagship sponsor)OthersFull-service law firm providing legal services to cannabis businesses. Listed as a Gold Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Outdoor Advertising Council of New Yorkgold patron (flagship sponsor)OthersIndustry organization representing outdoor advertising. Listed as a Gold Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Marino PRgold patron (flagship sponsor)OthersPublic relations firm serving the cannabis industry. Listed as a Gold Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Harris Beach PLLCsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersFull-service law firm with a cannabis practice group serving operators across New York State. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Dorsey & Whitney LLPsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersInternational law firm with a cannabis and hemp industry practice. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• McGlinchey Staffordsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersLaw firm providing cannabis industry legal services. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Bowers & Company CPAssilver patron (core sponsor)OthersAccounting firm providing tax and financial advisory services to cannabis businesses. Authored guidance on Schedule III protective refund claims published through CANY's platform.
• The Wagoner Firmsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersLaw firm specializing in cannabis business law. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Blitz Insurancesilver patron (core sponsor)OthersInsurance provider serving the cannabis industry. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• MJ Unpackedsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersMedia platform covering the cannabis industry. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Nabissilver patron (core sponsor)OthersCannabis wholesale platform and distributor. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Comploysilver patron (core sponsor)OthersHR services provider for the cannabis industry. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• McNeil & Co.silver patron (core sponsor)OthersInsurance brokerage with a cannabis practice. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website and linked from the CANY Insurance page.
• Evolved Extraction Solutions Ltdsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersCannabis extraction services provider. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• PAXsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersCannabis consumption device manufacturer. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Tenax Strategiessilver patron (core sponsor)OthersCannabis consulting and strategic advisory firm. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• AmeriCUsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersCredit union providing banking services to the cannabis industry in New York. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Trimmrsilver patron (core sponsor)OthersCannabis industry marketing/branding platform. Listed as a Silver Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Upstate Strategic Advisorsbronze patron (supporting sponsor)OthersStrategic advisory firm for the cannabis industry. Listed as a Bronze Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Kaufman McGowan PPLCbronze patron (supporting sponsor)OthersLaw firm with cannabis industry practice. Listed as a Bronze Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Ayrloombronze patron (supporting sponsor)OthersCannabis industry marketing agency. Listed as a Bronze Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Hancock Estabrook, LLPbronze patron (supporting sponsor)OthersFull-service law firm with an Upstate New York presence serving cannabis clients. Listed as a Bronze Patron sponsor on CANY's website.
• Biotraxlisted partnerTechnology or IntegrationCannabis testing and tracking technology provider. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page, indicating integration or technology support for member operations.
• Trichome Analyticallisted partnerTechnology or IntegrationCannabis and hemp testing laboratory. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• New Bloom Labslisted partnerTechnology or IntegrationCannabis testing laboratory. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Vicente LLPlisted partnerImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCannabis industry law firm. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Hemp Lab NYlisted partnerTechnology or IntegrationNew York-based hemp testing laboratory. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Proteus 420listed partnerTechnology or IntegrationSeed-to-sale cannabis software platform. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• BioAnalytic Corplisted partnerTechnology or IntegrationCannabis testing and analytics provider. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Safe Harbor Financiallisted partnerOthersFinancial services provider for the cannabis industry (banking compliance). Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• NYC NORMLlisted partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots organization working to legalize cannabis in New York City. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page, indicating aligned advocacy mission.
• ROC NORMLlisted partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRochester-area cannabis legalization advocacy organization. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page, indicating aligned advocacy mission.
• National Industrial Hemp Councillisted partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational trade association for the industrial hemp industry. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• NECANNlisted partnerOthersCannabis industry trade show and conference organizer. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Koffman Southern Tier Incubatorlisted partnerOthersBusiness incubator supporting startups in the Southern Tier of New York. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Lippes Mathias LLPlisted partnerOthersLaw firm with cannabis industry practice. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Tompkins Chamberlisted partnerOthersChamber of commerce for Tompkins County, NY, representing local businesses. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• JD Chapman Agencylisted partnerOthersInsurance agency specializing in cannabis coverage. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Seibold Securitylisted partnerOthersSecurity services provider for cannabis businesses. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• GrowSpanlisted partnerOthersControlled environment agriculture equipment supplier serving cannabis and hemp growers. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Growers Houselisted partnerOthersCannabis and hemp cultivation supplies and equipment retailer. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Willow Industrieslisted partnerOthersCannabis post-harvest processing and microbial remediation technology. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Pipp Horticulturelisted partnerOthersVertical cannabis farming racking and shelving systems provider. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Grow Generationlisted partnerOthersRetail chain of specialty horticulture stores serving cannabis cultivators. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Fluencelisted partnerOthersLED lighting manufacturer for controlled environment agriculture, including cannabis cultivation. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• bio365listed partnerOthersSoil and growing media company for cannabis and hemp cultivation. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• The Bonadio Grouplisted partnerOthersCertified Public Accounting firm with cannabis industry clients. Listed as a Partner on CANY's About page.
• Mailchimpthird-party service providerOthersEmail marketing platform used by CANY to distribute newsletters and member communications. Information transferred to Mailchimp for processing per CANY's Privacy Policy.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Marijuana Policy Project (MPP): Long-running national cannabis policy reform organization with a broader lobbying footprint. Comparable to CANY in policy advocacy mission but operates nationally and historically focused more on legalization than on operator trade-association services.
• Drug Policy Alliance: National advocacy organization promoting drug policy reform, including cannabis legalization. Shares CANY's restorative-justice and reform-oriented framing but operates as a larger, broader drug-policy nonprofit rather than an operator trade body.

Direct peers

• National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA): The largest national cannabis trade association in the US. Like CANY, NCIA represents licensed operators and ancillary businesses through advocacy, policy engagement, and member services, operating the same membership/trade-association model at the federal level.
• National Cannabis Roundtable: National trade association of cannabis operators, ancillary businesses, and policy advocates. Comparable membership-based model and federal/state policy focus to CANY, with overlap on industry policy and operator representation.
• New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association (NJCIA): New Jersey's state cannabis trade association representing licensed operators. Direct state-level analog to CANY in mission, member structure, and policy advocacy focus, providing a useful regional peer benchmark.
• Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA): National trade association advancing diversity and inclusion in the cannabis industry. Operates a comparable membership/advocacy model, and CANY's stated restorative-justice mission aligns closely with MCBA's social-equity focus.
• Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MassCannBiz): Massachusetts state-level cannabis trade association. Closely mirrors CANY's model — state-specific advocacy, member recruitment across license categories, and policy engagement with state regulators — and serves as a useful operational benchmark.
• California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA): California's statewide cannabis trade association representing licensed operators and ancillary businesses. Closest state-level analog to CANY in terms of mission (advocacy, networking, education for operators) and structure.
• Michigan Cannabis Industry Association (MICIA): Michigan's statewide cannabis trade association representing operators across license categories. Closely mirrors CANY's trade-association model and policy-advocacy function in another large adult-use state.
• NORML: National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, with active NY state chapters (NYC NORML, ROC NORML listed as CANY partners). Shares grassroots policy advocacy mission focused on cannabis legalization and reform, overlapping with CANY's policy engagement work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thinkcany
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7scJH_oCFXwsrv6RNAe-uQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/thinkcany
• Instagraminstagram.com/thinkcany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thinkcany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cannabis Association of New York