Rochester Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Cooney will lead a subcommittee on cannabis policy, his office on Thursday announced. 

The new subcommittee is being formed as the state moves forward with its cannabis marketplace. It also comes as lawmakers are considering changes to how illegal sales are regulated and how to better expand the legal marketplace. 

“I am pleased to see the adult-use recreational cannabis market begin to come online in New York, but there is much more to be done,” Cooney said. "From the beginning, the state legislature committed to doing the hard work of building the most equitable cannabis marketplace in the nation. I fully believe we can meet that goal."

Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed new measures meant to expand penalties for selling cannabis without a license. Some lawmakers, including Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, are considering new tax provisions for legal cannabis sales. 

Cooney has backed measures meant to encourage the growth of the legal cannabis market in New York, including proposals for enabling medical cannabis and tax deductions for cannabis businesses.