New York is on the cusp of legalizing recreational marijuana after a series of failed attempts over the years as Gov. Andrew Cuomo remains steeped in scandals and calls to resign.
Democratic state Sen. Liz Krueger, representing a portion of Manhattan, said Thursday that the upper chamber had successfully negotiated the terms of the deal with Cuomo’s office and expected the finalized bill to be sent to the legislature next week.
Finalizing a deal to legalize recreational marijuana, a very popular issue among New Yorkers, could benefit Cuomo politically. Cuomo has been accused of orchestrating a cover-up of total deaths due to COVID-19 among nursing home residents, sexual harassment of multiple women including three aides, and corruption in the form of facilitating COVID-19 testing for family members when tests were limited last spring.
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The legislation would allow New Yorkers to possess up to three ounces of marijuana for recreational use. It would also permit lounges, or “consumption sites,” where people can use marijuana, but not alcoholic beverages. New Yorkers would be permitted to grow up to six marijuana plants at home both indoors and outdoors for personal use, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Legalization has become increasingly popular over the years, with 60% of voters voicing support for an end to prohibition in November, compared to 32% of voters in opposition. Public support had risen significantly from February 2020 when polling showed support for marijuana legalization ahead by a margin of 55% to 40%.
The legislation would subject sales to a 9% state tax as well as a 4% local tax. Sales are projected to add about $6 billion to state economic output by 2027, according to a February report from economist Michele Mattingly and James Parrott, a fiscal policy expert at the Center for New York City Affairs. The analysis was funded by the major fertilizer maker Scott’s Miracle-Gro, which advocates for marijuana legalization.
Many Republicans, the minority party in both chambers, have clashed with state Democrats over legalization and market regulation, sticking points that have derailed several past attempts. Cuomo himself has opposed marijuana policy reform, changing his tune in 2018 when faced with a primary challenge from liberal gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon.
“We’re close, but we’ve been close three times before,” Cuomo said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The move to legalize has angered some advocacy organizations, as well. The state PTA urged its members to oppose legalization, arguing that the commercialization of marijuana “creates a serious public and child health threat and sends a mixed message to young people that using recreational marijuana is acceptable.”
“With the serious crisis of youth vaping and the continuing opioid epidemic, this harmful legislation is counterintuitive,” the PTA added.
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The bill is expected to go up for a vote early next week, setting New York up to become the 15th state in the U.S. to approve legalization of recreational marijuana.
