Courtesy of Jen Drake, Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Allen Gandelman, Gia Morón; Shayanne Gal/Insider
- Insider identified the top power players in New York's burgeoning cannabis industry.
- They range from regulators to executives to investors in the space.
- These individuals will have a big hand in shaping the New York market.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
As New York's recreational cannabis industry shapes up, a group of individuals will play a big role in shaping the market's future.
The Empire State legalized cannabis on March 31. More regulations and details are expected in the coming months as members are appointed to the Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Control Board – the regulatory bodies responsible for the industry.
It's still unclear who will fill these roles, but it's likely that the people who have worked for years to help bring legalization to New York will be the same ones who will shape the future of the industry.
These power players range from lawmakers, like Sen. Liz Krueger and State Assembly Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, to advocates, like the New York heads of the Drug Policy Alliance and NORML, to executives of the cannabis companies that operate in the state's medical market.
Once New York's recreational market ramps up, annual sales could reach $5 billion to $7 billion, according to estimates from analysts at Stifel and Cantor Fitzgerald, respectively.
Insider reached out to some of the most influential people who have helped shape New York's cannabis industry to come up with a list of 27 power players.
