Leslie K. Danks Burke, J.D., is a lawyer, adjunct Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, and adjunct full Professor in Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). Her career in tax, international dispute resolution, and human and civil rights led her to increasing concern about political polarization and damage to the democratic republic arising from tax and economic inequity. Professor Danks Burke transitioned into policy advocacy in rural economic development. Her anti-corruption work has been featured on NPR, and for three years, she provided weekly commentary for the NBC affiliate broadcasting across the rural Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania. Professor Danks Burke holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. On a personal note, Professor Danks Burke’s parents farm corn and wheat in eastern Colorado.
New York State Cannabis RegulationCornell Course
Course Overview
New York legalized high-THC cannabis for medical use in 2016, decriminalized possession in 2019, and, in 2021, became the 15th state to legalize high-THC cannabis for adult recreational use. How did New York get to this point, and what does the future of NYS regulation look like?
In this course, you will explore the varying regulatory structures for medical, recreational, and industrial cannabis use in New York. You will examine the current landscape of New York State laws, look at the intersection of state law and municipal law, and consider what might change in the near future.
Whether you are a cultivator, a farmer, a producer, a grower, or an investor, upon completion of this course, you will understand how to identify the regulatory structures that apply to your position in the cannabis market in order to stay on top of a brand-new framework that is still evolving, even as it's being applied in real life.
You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:
- Understanding Federal Cannabis Regulation
Key Course Takeaways
- Explore the different regulatory structures for the medical, recreational, and industrial (i.e., non-consumable) uses of cannabis
- Identify the current landscape of NYS laws concerning cannabis and the intersection of state law and municipal law
- Explore available resources to stay up-to-date on New York State regulation
How It Works
Course Author
Who Should Enroll
- Entrepreneurs
- Cannabis-industry business leaders
- Cannabis growers, producers and hobbyists
- Farmers
- Investors
- Cannabis industry marketers
- Lawyers
- Healthcare professionals
- Current students in law, public policy, or agriculture
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