With the recent legislation legalizing cannabis in the State of New York, over 2,200 businesses have applied for license approval from the Office of Cannabis Management in Albany. Three potential operators have applied for approval to set up shop in the Town of Rockland. Residents may know in early February if any of them will be approved.

Two of the local applicants are known to the community. Jennifer Grossman, co-owner of the Smoke Joint in Livingston Manor, has submitted a proposal to operate a dispensary on property she already owns in town. Mark Turkheimer of Mark Turk Farms has developed a proposal for a microbusiness in Roscoe. It would grow, process and market cannabis, selling it in a retail dispensary. A third proposal with a mailing address of Middletown, NY, comes from Cornell Marsh of Strange Clouds. He also wishes to open a dispensary in Roscoe.

On Nov. 9, the Rockland Town Board, pursuant to Turkheimer’s request, wrote a letter to the Office of Cannabis Management in support of Mark Turk Farms. The board, according to Supervisor Rob Eggleton, did this because they recognized that a cannabis-based business could benefit the town financially. Of the four percent of tax revenue earned on sales, one percent would go to Sullivan County, and the other three percent would go directly to Rockland.

“There is really only one reason we support this kind of business, which is because we are such a small town, so the tax revenue could be a considerable amount of money to help us,” said Eggleton. He said the money could be used to improve roads and sidewalks and increase park areas. “Basically, so we don’t have to keep raising everyone’s taxes,” he added.

One microbusiness applicant’s story

Manor Ink interviewed Mark Turkheimer about his background and plans for his proposed microbusiness in Roscoe.

Turkheimer is a resident and an honorably-discharged disabled veteran who served four years in the United States Coast Guard. He is also a professionally trained chef who graduated from the Culinary Institute of America.

After college, he had an unfortunate incident that resulted in his being incarcerated for possessing marijuana. He was one of many sentenced in the early ’90s during the “War on Drugs,” when judges had to impose mandatory sentences. Turkheimer was imprisoned for five years.

Turkheimer and his family have contributed to the effort to legalize marijuana in New York State. He has also traveled the country to observe other developments, laws and programs regarding cannabis legalization. He feels that the business he hopes to open in Roscoe is a way to contribute to the community.

“When the move to legalize cannabis started, it allowed me to participate in something very dear to me,” Turkheimer said. “It was just a way, within a legal process, to give back and continue what many people have fought hard for – and pretty much erase the stigma or label put on people for such.”

Turkheimer has also owned and run other successful businesses, including several restaurants nationwide, a plumbing supply store and real estate businesses, including an Airbnb in the Town of Rockland.

He is now the CEO and majority partner in his newest business project, the proposed cannabis microbusiness. His partner is Benjamin Rattner, a cannabis attorney with a law firm in White Plains, NY.

A personal connection to Roscoe

Mark Turk Farms plans to locate on Railroad Avenue, the property formally home to the Roscoe Lumber Yard. That facility is owned by Peter Devantier, who is also a member of the Town of Rockland Town Board. There, Turkheimer plans on cultivating, processing and distributing cannabis products. He also plans to have a retail and wholesale store on the property.

Turkheimer has two reasons for his choice of location. “One is because of the demographics,” he explained. “The microbusiness would be located near the highway, making for easier access. It would also be within a few hours of significant hubs for the cannabis market, such as New York City and Binghamton.”

His other reason is more personal, stemming from his connection to the town. “It’s the community I reside in, and I love it!”

What has been the reception to Turkheimer’s proposal? “The community and Roscoe have been really supportive. The feedback is stupendous! The support is above and beyond, and I am humbly grateful,” he said.

Manor Ink attempted to speak with the other two applicants. Jennifer Grossman indicated she was away and could not comment until after deadline. Cornell Marsh did not respond to the paper’s request. The Office of Cannabis Management also did not respond to a request for an interview.

Facts about cannabis in New York

Here is an overview of state and local regulations governing cannabis sales.

The state’s Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act was adopted on Mar. 31, 2023.
The act is governed by a Cannabis Control Board which comprehensively regulates recreational adult-use, medical and hemp cannabis.
Local communities were given the right to opt out of having dispensaries and/or consumption sites.
49 percent of NY municipal governments opted out of permitting adult-use cannabis. At least 56 percent opted out of consumption sites. The Town of Rockland did not opt out.
In Sullivan County, the towns of Callicoon, Cochection, Lumberland, Neversink and the Village of Bloomingburg opted out. The Town of Highland opted in for dispensaries but opted out for on-site consumption.
The application period for licensing was opened Oct. 4, 2023, and closed Nov. 17 of that year. There are 2,232 applications in the queue. Priority will be given to owners with prior business experience, veterans, victims of the ‘War on Drugs,” minorities, business plan feasibility and more.
Cannabis businesses may not employ any person under the age of 18 years in any capacity where the duties would require the minor to sell, dispense or handle cannabis. Also, any employee between the ages of 18 to 21 may not have direct interaction with customers inside a licensed retail store.

The complete law and its policies can be found at cannabis.ny.gov. Additional data from the Rockefeller Institute.