Cuomo and New York Take Another Swing at Legalized Cannabis

New York State looks to have finally reached a deal for legalizing cannabis. Many believe the decision is greatly influenced by legalization in sister state, New Jersey. But the governor, Andrew Cuomo, attests the plan to legalize cannabis is not news.

In the last two years, Cuomo had reform measures in the budget proposals for marijuana reform. The Assembly and Senate took the bill off the agenda. The governor put them back in the budget for this year and he believes the houses will vote on them in the positive.

Part of the bill calls for a state regulatory agency to be responsible for issuing licenses to growers. The agency would also monitor delivery, retail sales, and on-premises consumption. The planned name of the agency is the Office of Cannabis Management.

Another aspect of the bill is recreational smokers can cultivate a dozen plants per household. But that provision wouldn’t be a go until 18 months after the state’s first licensed dispensary launches.

That is a way’s off as the first licensed sales aren’t expected to begin until December 2022. At that time, New Yorkers over 21 can legally buy and possess up to three ounces for personal use.

Current plans are to instate a nine percent tax on retail sales. Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) has said that could generate $300 million a year for the state. Experts believe legalization will pour $3.5 billion into economic activity and create over 60,000 new jobs. Local municipalities could add a four percent tax on sales. Or they could opt-out, disallowing deliveries and local sales.

Referring to his determination to legalize, Cuomo said, “This year we have to get it done, and getting it done by the time the budget is passed is essential. Cannabis is not just social equity. It’s also revenue for the state.”

Among issues that remain on the table is how to distribute collected tax outside of funding the new agency. Plans on the table include dedicating 40 percent to social-equity grants, 40 percent to schools, and the remaining 20 percent turned over to treatment and public education.

Many states have legalized cannabis. They include Alaska, California, and Georgia. Some states have only legalized medical use. Others have decriminalized marijuana while regulating what’s considered possession legal carry weight. Growing and possession are still illegal on the federal level.

The state of New York has already made two attempts to put weed on the legal map. Between each failure, the Cuomo administration saw setups in Massachusetts and New Jersey blow up after legalization.

At a recent press conference, the governor argued, “This should have been passed years ago. I think too many people have been imprisoned, incarcerated, punished. It’s exaggerated the injustice of the justice system. … This is a year where we need the funding, and a lot of New Yorkers are struggling, and I think this year will give us momentum to get us over the goal line.”