The New York State Office of Cannabis Management recently sat down with Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Demario Strickland to discuss cannabis-related challenges facing young people in the community. That conversation reinforced the need for Cannabis Honestly, OCM’s statewide youth cannabis education campaign, and helped spark a collaboration between the state, the City of Mount Vernon, and the Mount Vernon City School District.
On Sunday, October 4, 2026, Lyla Hunt, Deputy Director of Public Health and Education at the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, joined us on Black Westchester Presents: People Before Politics Radio to discuss how Cannabis Honestly can support schools, families, educators, and other trusted adults. The conversation explored why community partnerships are central to prevention, what this collaboration could mean for young people in cities like Mount Vernon, how adults can have more informed conversations with youth about cannabis, and the importance of providing young people with credible information before misinformation reaches them.
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) oversees New York’s regulated adult-use cannabis, medical cannabis, and cannabinoid hemp industries. The agency works to develop an equitable and responsible cannabis marketplace while protecting public health and safety, supporting licensees and communities, ensuring regulatory compliance, and advancing public education.
OCM also provides resources to help New Yorkers better understand the state’s cannabis laws, make informed decisions, and report concerns involving cannabis activity.
To learn more, you can contact the New York State Office of Cannabis Management and the Cannabis Honestly Public Education Campaign. To report a Cannabis-Related Incident, Illicit Shop or Other Concern, click here
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