ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – Cannabis legalization has been a long debate in New York State and now, lawmakers have made an agreement to move forward in the legislation process.
Late Saturday night, the Governor announced the agreement to legalize adult-use cannabis. This agreement is not a formal bill, but it allows leaders to begin drafting legislation as early as this week.
Republicans are opposed to the agreement, siting several legal and health concerns, such as overwhelming the social services sector and increasing drug related accidents.
“I adamantly opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana, I think it’s a very bad idea for a number of reasons,” Assemblymember Phil Palmesano said. “I know many of my colleagues are talking about this the governor is talking about this as a big revenue generator, quite frankly, I don’t care how much money this could generate for a state, it’s not worth the costs that will come along with it.”
Democrats say this new legislation would provide revenue to create programs for regulation.
“The major reason is that way too many people who look like me, but specifically African Americans, have had their entire lives ruined…because they’ve been incarcerated in very large numbers for very small amounts of marijuana,” Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said. “For me, it created an opportunity to tax and regulate this product that destroyed so many lives. It gives some of…
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ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – Cannabis legalization has been a long debate in New York State and now, lawmakers have made an agreement to move forward in the legislation process.
Late Saturday night, the Governor announced the agreement to legalize adult-use cannabis. This agreement is not a formal bill, but it allows leaders to begin drafting legislation as early as this week.
Republicans are opposed to the agreement, siting several legal and health concerns, such as overwhelming the social services sector and increasing drug related accidents.
“I adamantly opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana, I think it’s a very bad idea for a number of reasons,” Assemblymember Phil Palmesano said. “I know many of my colleagues are talking about this the governor is talking about this as a big revenue generator, quite frankly, I don’t care how much money this could generate for a state, it’s not worth the costs that will come along with it.”
Democrats say this new legislation would provide revenue to create programs for regulation.
“The major reason is that way too many people who look like me, but specifically African Americans, have had their entire lives ruined…because they’ve been incarcerated in very large numbers for very small amounts of marijuana,” Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said. “For me, it created an opportunity to tax and regulate this product that destroyed so many lives. It gives some of…
