New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to Push for Legal Recreational Marijuana
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to Push for Legal Recreational Marijuana
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is calling for the legalization and regulation of marijuana for recreational use by adults, his third attempt in as many years to get the drug fully legalized in the state.
Cuomo, a Democrat, announced his proposal Wednesday as part of his upcoming State of the State agenda for the year.
Cuomo pointed to growing acceptance of legalization in the Northeast, including in Massachusetts, Maine and most recently, New Jersey.
The proposal calls for the creation of a new Office of Cannabis Management that would oversee recreational use as well as existing medical use.
It also would offer licensing opportunities for those in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by law enforcement efforts against marijuana to become entrepreneurs in the new recreational market.
Cuomo’s latest legalization proposal follows two unsuccessful attempts in 2019 and 2020 to fully legalize marijuana, which both fell short despite Democrats’ 2018 win of both chambers of the Legislature.
In 2019, New York softened some criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana and launched a process to automatically expunge the records of thousands of individuals convicted of low-level possession crimes.
Democrats won a veto-proof supermajority in November — and supporters are hoping legalization will gain momentum.
“New Yorkers have spoken in the streets and at the polls: they demanded that lawmakers dismantle systemic racism, and that begins with how we legalize marijuana,” New York Civil Liberties Union senior policy counsel Michael Sisitzky said in a statement. “It is time for lawmakers in Albany to step up, stop the harm and start repairing the damage to Black and Brown New Yorkers whose lives have been needlessly destroyed by racist drug policies across our state for far too long.”
But Cuomo’s proposal will still need buy-in from Democrats from swing suburban districts, who have long cited concerns that legalization would lead to more impaired driving and more children smoking pot.
Kevin Sabet, the president of advocacy group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, which is opposed to legalization, called the idea “social injustice” that would benefit “wealthy, connect investors and multi-state operators.”
“In the midst of an unprecedented respiratory pandemic and overdose epidemic, it is a terrible idea to commercialize high potency, dangerous pot products,” Sabet, a former drug policy advisor to former President Barack Obama. “It is a risky proposition for New York, and it won’t make anyone other than a few investors rich.”
The party’s liberal wing criticized Cuomo’s 2020 proposal for failing to set aside money specifically to lift up places that have suffered from mass incarceration and a legacy of disproportionate arrests for drug possession.
The governor had proposed to set aside marijuana tax revenue in a fund that could be used for everything from encouraging minorities to join the cannabis industry to public health campaigns.
Cuomo is hopeful his new proposal could bring in sorely needed revenue to the state, even as he expects additional federal aid.
But even supporters of legalization have stressed that New York won’t see any revenue from marijuana legalization for years.
State budget director Bob Mujica estimated Wednesday it will take “several years” for legalized sales to eventually bring in $300 million a year.
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New Jersey and massachusetts : "Wow , still no cigar ?"
They make more off the drug busts in certain states than they would legalizing it and profiting off of it
Russia subsidizes vodka so all Russians can afford it in bulk. By keeping people intoxicated they won’t notice how bad things are in Russia.
Lawmakers in the U.S. have the same thing in mind only they want to strangle people with additional taxes while we’re doped up on "pot".
We need legal weed in Southern states like South Carolina and North Carolina . C’mon what’s the wait? Legal in all States.
Legalize it now
It’s about damn time, congrats to New Yorkers if it passes. and this how i find a plug that delivered to my home address in NY i thank you https://www.baronweeedshop.com for the relief of my pain.
I already pay taxes on everything else. I don’t want to pay taxes on bud lol
It’s about damn time, congrats to New Yorkers if it passes. and this how i find a plug that delivered to my home address in NY i thank you https://www.baronweeedshop.com for the relief of my pain.
free the plant in the Philippines & NY 💚
Here’s some weed. Ignore all those deaths i tried to hide.
I’m glad it’s better than drinking you know how many family’s and family members would still be alive if weed was legal and not beer, not to forget to mention it helps with ADD ADHD when all you want to do is relax and so chores around the house like laundry,
Yes, please legalize it, I suffer a lot from chronic pain, and I’m allergic to pretty much every medication known to man, even over the counter pain meds, and I will never live there unless it’s legal, I suffer from far too much pain to endure going through legal hurdles for what, my favorite strength is weed that’s one to one. I only use ones that are super low in thc, like 4 to 7%.
since when was weed not legal in NY?
Let people grow. It’s just a plant. You can grow tobacco which kills you, why not something which heals you.
When I tell you i met this legit vendor *weedblunty* telegram I’m real with it !! Got my weed 💨 on time 💯
K2 zombie weed is now legal
Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law
https://www.justice.gov/crt/deprivation-rights-under-color-law
Ordinances, mandates, recommendations, and suggestions are NOT LAW. Presidents, governors and mayors do not make the law; LEGISLATORS DO. Try as you might to enforce mask-wearing, but it is NOT LAW, bottom line.
I you turn people into addicts you have their votes…it’s a good political move…and it’s a path to balance the budget that politicians fail to do …
I would happen to be one of the strongest marijuana Advocates ever. They don’t care about the healing qualities of marijuana they care about the money. While there where I live you can buy hemp bud. If it was weed I probably would not be happy to find seeds like the past. While I found a couple of hemp seeds and I looked it up and you can’t even grow hunt and they’re not going to let you grow weed cuz they’re too money hungry this is New York. And that is why people are leaving in droves
Legalize it . It make money for the state
Yeah, so people can smoke it and think he is a great governor.
And they don’t care what we think they don’t let us vote. And if it is federally illegal that is why if you get a medical marijuana license you cannot have a gun do they take your gun if you had one? That is a question nobody can answer. It is so prodigiously expensive there’s no way I can afford it.
I’ve tried CBD and it works amazing. Check out CBD from Weedborn.
It will be known as the PUFF PUFF pass law…
Now we can have ” POT’ ” luck Desserts #PuffPuffPassLaw
Funny how he wants to peddle marijuana when they need the money.. it’s almost as if they’re.. never mind. I hope they legalize this.
Hope the uk do it soon
It only took corporate Dems and ALL Republicans to allow the state to go completely bankrupt first.
Hopefully they can get it done.
the vote is in april. 90 percent chance itll pass cuz of jersey getting legalized
He just want ppl to like him and forget the BS he is in…
LEGALIZE IT FEDERALLY!!!!
Studies really have proven that low information voters are largely democrat. This "proposal" proves it. What’s a better way to dumb down society to further their control over you? Legalize drugs! To all you "enlightened economists" look to Colorado, Massachusetts, California and etc. to how much the state actually makes after legalizing weed. Oh wait, they are incurring larger debt because of it. To all the "woke" individuals saying how now they release all these "non-violent" criminals arrested for weed charges. The significant number of people in jail for just weed charges other than a large amount(20lbs+ and even this is low in this NY) is non existent. So stop being a sheep and actually look into things. Also the availability to children will be much higher (proven on various studies in the above listed states). Then there’s the up-tic in high drivers. Which causes more accidents, injuries, and deaths also proven by (state statistics in all above mentioned states) Oh also DWAI-Drug arrests go up(oops that’s where the offset of their losing money goes, your 10k court bill). Last but not least, also proven by multiple studies and even our own government. The black market will get worse in the state, non-violent and violent crimes will rise more than they already have and you’ll be stuck with the bill come tax time. Have fun in NY while it slowly burns into nothing.
New york states been arguing over the profits with black activist for least what 10 years in anticipation of legalizing so it’ll never happen but nice thought meanwhile habib is selling fake thc carts on the low for 20$ that will fuckin kill you!!!! What’s new york do makes flavor vape juice illegal??? Let’s vape shops sell you real poison legally and illegally under table (in form of fake thc carts from your local habib store or vape shops owned by arabs ect)
We do not want cannabis legalized unless med-cannabis patient can grow their own cannabis. Dont really know about anyone else but there are millions of people who can not afford to go to the dispensaries and pay $60 for something thats going to last you a week! This is not going to cut it! We want the opportunities for caregivers and patients to have the ability to grow their own cannbis..period!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, the "qualified" governor of the 4th biggest state in the nation….
😩😩😩
please. dont smoke/vape weed. smoke/vape flowers or bud. much more accurate and positive outlook to the movement towards mainstream socio/political acceptance
F bloomberg
So funny! weed stocks going down!
Freedom of choice is what we want 👍💚🐯
he’s been wanting to legalize marijuana for his last three terms.. maybe now he’s really serious 🤣
The Scriptures declared all creation, including plants, to have been good initially. Genesis 1 is clear
Every known chemical is not poisonous in small doses, and all chemicals are poisonous in large enough doses.💯
I cannot wait until they kick the bum out of office
Great just what we need a bunch of pot heads driving high, committing crimes while stoned… the date takes in taxes and businesses never make the money promised.
Cannabis not "weed"
Go Green!
Cuomo is no one. He’s just an eloquent speaker, like his dad was; undeniable. Has Presidential asperations. If he can balance the 2021 NYS state budget…he’ll take ALL the accolades for himself. I think he would be the best Democratic candidate in the future for President, but right now…he needs something big to brag about….to use for promoting himself.
He "ducks out" when people are against him; ex) speaking about nursing home problems and statistics that are abysmally wrong, the cost of the Bridge (now in his Father’s name…for God’s sake, etc. )
He’s just a regular politician. We all know that.
Marijuana should never have become illegal in the first place with Nixon….the d.bag….worst President ever; in any country. Half of our ‘nations arrests and promotions’ are based on the arrests of someone "getting caught" with a "nickle-bag". Cops gotta get promoted somehow; by writing speeding tickets; in areas where they have to hide…and with petty marijuana laws that screw everyone. Cannibus is a natural product…given by God for many ailments…as is ETOH/alcohol. Hey Cuomo,…do you "drink at all sir?"
NYS will enact the legalization now…due to the 50+ billion we’re in deficit…not because of anything else. Not because of recommendations for "health reasons, Caner patient testimonies, or anything else….just for tax revenues". People will still be arrested if the state of NY finds marijuana that is "used" without being taxed. In other words,….the poor will still be hit hard. Everyone in State Government is upstate NY smokes, snorts, or drinks. Anyone deny this? When you Andrew or Chris…wanna try some "good stuff"…give me a call….but don’t try and tax me guys.
Doesn’t matter! I’m staying under ground with the black market. State weed is horrible and they have no clue how to properly grow not to mention we’ll be paying way more. Na
Looking at everything that’s happened in other states after legalizing marijuana, and looking at it from a financial point of view, I honestly think legalizing marijuana in New York will be extremely beneficial to me getting high on marijuana drugs
Lucky!
To ask directly and get a clear answer, does marijuana/pot end or reduce anxiety and depression? It’s for a short story for my English class; I’m gonna have my teenage character do a specific drug he shouldn’t being doing, because he’s miserable and stressed and wants to loosen up. I just don’t know much about drugs.