Governor Cuomo announces proposal to legalize and establish a fair Cannabis program for adults as part of the 2021 state

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a proposal to legalize and create a comprehensive system to oversee and regulate cannabis in New York as part of the state of 2021. Under the governor’s proposal, a new cannabis management office is created to oversee the new program for adults, as well as the state’s existing medical and cannabinoid hemp programs. In addition, a fair structure for the adult market will be created by providing licensing opportunities and assistance to entrepreneurs in color communities who have been excessively affected by the war on drugs. Once fully implemented, more than $ 300 million in tax revenue is expected to be generated.

“Despite the many challenges facing New York in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also created a number of opportunities to redress long-term injustices and build New York better than ever before.” Governor Cuomo said. “The legalization and regulation of the adult cannabis market not only provides the opportunity to generate much-needed income, but it also enables us to directly support the individuals and communities who have suffered the most from decades of cannabis bans. . “

The governor’s proposal builds on years of work to understand and decriminalize adult cannabis. In 2018, the Department of Health, led by Governor Cuomo, conducted a multi-agency study that concluded that the positive consequences of legalizing cannabis for adults outweigh the negative ones. It also found that decades of banning cannabis did not achieve public health and safety goals, leading to unfair arrests and convictions, especially in color communities.

In 2019, Governor Cuomo signed legislation to criminalize the penalties for illegal possession of marijuana. The legislation also put forward a process to erase records for certain marijuana convictions. Later that year, the governor chaired a multi-state summit to discuss ways to legalize cannabis used by adults, which would ensure the health and safety of the public and coordinate programs in a regional area around the minimize cross-border movement of cannabis products.

Based on the important work, the proposal reflects national standards and emerging best practices to promote responsible use, restricts the sale of marijuana products to adults 21 and older, and imposes strict quality and safety controls, including strict regulation of packaging, labeling, advertising and testing of all cannabis products. Cannabis regulation also provides the opportunity to invest in research and direct resources to communities most affected by cannabis bans.