ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Mayor-elect Malik Evans has announced the Rochester Cannabis Preparation Commission.

The goal of the panel is to set rules and regulations for licensing within the city, as well as ensure equity in handing out those licenses. 

"While there are still many outstanding questions regarding licensing and other matters, Rochester must be prepared with local regulations and a business plan for working with cannabis-related businesses," Evans said in a statement.

Evans says the commission will also work to ensure equity in licensing cannabis sellers, especially those he says have been targeted by the war on marijuana.

“There are things we can learn that we want to do," Evans said. "And things we want to make sure we absolutely do not do. We want to make sure that this is available to folks in the community. As it relates to an entrepreneurial perspective. If people are left out especially in the black and brown communities we will have missed an opportunity.”

The director of RIT Center for Urban Entrepreneurship Ebony Miller Wesley and the founder and managing principal of Intersection Realty Group Truman Tolefree will serve as co-chairs. Councilmembers Mitch Gruber and Michael Patterson, community member Jeffrey Medford, special assistant to the mayor John Brach, chief of staff Tammy Mayberry, director of planning Kevin Kelly, and corporation counsel Linda Kingsley will also serve on the initial commission. Other members of the Evans Administration will also be added. 

New York state is still working to develop rules and regulations for the adult-use industry.