Many disagreements over reparations and revenue have stalled proposals cannabis Legalization in New York. However, opportunities for compromise might arise in the coming weeks.
Governor Andrew Cuomo will soon release the suggested updates to his budget proposal, which consists of plans to legalize weed. On the other hand, the Senate Democrats will also introduce their latest version of the legalization bill.
Currently, marijuana legalization may be part of the state budget proposals being prepared by the Senate and Assembly. In 2019, NY softened some criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of weed and unveiled a process to delete records of thousands of individuals convicted of low-level possession crimes.
Nonetheless, full legalization broke down after fights came up about how the State should cater to the needs of the minority communities that were significantly harmed by years of the drug war. These disputes remain unresolved so far. Some lawmakers proposed setting aside up to 50% of marijuana tax revenue for grants to help these communities.
The supporters of this strategy, including Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, believe that New York cannot pass a bill that will not dedicate significant amounts of revenue to these efforts.
Cuomo’s Proposal
On his part, Cuomo proposed putting marijuana tax revenue in a fund that may be utilized in various expenses. They can be used to encourage minorities, disadvantaged farmers, and women to dive into the cannabis industry. The funds can also come in handy when doing public health campaigns and offsetting the cost of regulating marijuana.
Activists insist that the governor’s proposal is too vague and noncommital in investing directly in things that can lift places that have encountered mass incarceration. Some of the issues they raise include job development, community reentry for prisoners and ex-convicts, legal services and drug treatment. Also, they say that Cuomo’s proposal leans more towards criminal penalties instead of civil fines to enforce marijuana laws.
“There’s so much that we can do with revenue from marijuana, but it needs to be done in a way that creates a model for the nation,” said Jawanza James Williams, an organizer with the pro-legalization group VOCAL-NY. “How do we legalize marijuana while correcting wrongs?”
Cuomo said that he is unsure whether the lawmakers have the political will to make New York the 12th State to legalize recreational use. Many conservatives and various Senate Democrats representing Long Island are still resistant to legalization in an election year. The drug is still illegal in Albany as the fight plays out, and arrests continue happening.
New York continues to see arrests with Latinos and blacks being the most affected. The deputy state director for the Drug Policy Alliance, Melissa Moore, said:
“It just goes to show that tinkering around the edges of the policy will never be enough to solve the problem we see.”
Cuomo championed for marijuana legalization in his annual State of the State address and said that he plans to work with the neighbouring states on coordinated legalization policies. He is confident that the legalization should pass through this April’s state budget..
