OT: New York lawmakers reach a deal to legalize recreational marijuana

[Zenzibar]

New York lawmakers reach a deal to legalize recreational marijuana, source says
Lauren del Valle
By Lauren del Valle, CNN

(CNN)New York State lawmakers have reached a deal to legalize recreational marijuana, a legislative source familiar with negotiations told CNN Wednesday, stating lawmakers were finalizing bill language to be passed next week.

"The Cannabis Law" legislation would create a new Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) controlled by a Cannabis Control Board, according to an internal legislative memo obtained by CNN.

The proposal would eventually allow New Yorkers over the age of 21 to grow their own plants in their homes, and a 13% tax would be tacked on to retail sales for state and local tax revenue.

The deal follows marijuana legalization in neighboring New Jersey. Last month, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed bills to legalize and regulate marijuana use for those 21 and older, decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana and clarify marijuana and cannabis use and possession penalties for those younger than 21.

In New York, board officials would issue licenses for different steps of the supply chain -- farming, processing, distribution, dispensaries and retail "consumption" sites, the memo says. The new state office would oversee the regulation of the adult-use and medical cannabis programs.

Some OCM officials would be tasked with focusing on social equity, including a goal to award 50% of licenses to "social equity applicants" like those from communities impacted by cannabis prohibition and minority- and women-owned businesses, according to the memo.
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Percentages of the program's revenue would go to the State Lottery Fund for Education and the Drug Treatment and Public Education Fund. Another portion would go to the Community Grants Reinvestment Fund for "grants for qualified community-based organizations and approved local government entities to reinvest in communities disproportionately affected by past federal and state drug policies," the memo says.

The plan would allow law enforcement to justify suspicion of intoxication by the odor of cannabis but would prohibit using odor as a justification for searching a car for contraband, the memo says. "Impairment by cannabis" would be included in the infraction "Driving While Ability Impaired," which is the lowest degree of the "Driving While Intoxicated" statute.
The new program would also come with a new range of criminal penalties for unlawful possession and sale of cannabis, including a violation for three ounces of flower or 24 grams of concentrated cannabis and a Class D felony for more than 10 pounds of flower or four pounds of concentrated cannabis.

Municipalities could opt out of the program if residents vote to pass a local law prohibiting adult-use dispensaries within the jurisdiction. Residents could override these laws at the ballot box via the state's permissive referendum process, the memo states.
Several states have looked to loosen restrictions on marijuana. Voters in all five states with marijuana legalization on the ballot in November approved the measures, CNN reported last year.

New Jersey's marijuana legalization followed a 2020 ballot measure that saw New Jersey vote to legalize recreational marijuana. State lawmakers, unable to gain enough support to pass a bill to fully legalize marijuana, agreed to place the question directly to voters: "Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called 'cannabis'?"

Like New Jersey, Arizona also voted to legalize recreational marijuana, and Montana voted to both establish 21 as the legal age to purchase, possess and consume cannabis by constitutional amendment and to legalize marijuana for recreational use. South Dakota approved legalization for both recreational and medical use -- the first state ever to approve medical and recreational marijuana measures at the same time -- and Mississippi voted to legalize medical marijuana, becoming one of the first southern states to do so.

[DaGawd]

All about the money

[BKAY]

f yeah and we actually got homegrow

[DOT]

Me in CT watching New York and Massachusetts legalize weed

[F N 11]

Great news for personal reasons. They want that money though.

[ag3]

Is medicinal exempt from all these taxes? Not fair for patients like my wife who uses medicinal in NY for an auto-immune disease.

In MA medicinal exempt. I hope NY did the same.

[Meat]

what about the brown and black folks in jail for minor and non violent drug "crimes"

[Jalen Bluntson]

what about the brown and black folks in jail for minor and non violent "crimes"

What about the the white yellow purple and orange people too? Or fuq them?

[JBreezeNY]

what about the brown and black folks in jail for minor and non violent "crimes"

What about the the white yellow purple and orange people too? Or fuq them?

Are they disproportionately locked up compared to brown and black people?

[Jalen Bluntson]

what about the brown and black folks in jail for minor and non violent "crimes"

What about the the white yellow purple and orange people too? Or fuq them?

Are they disproportionately locked up compared to brown and black people?

Wow what a weak response. Try doing the math. They also commit a disproportionate amount of crime. This whole argument is ridiculous. One person in jail for a BS charge is more than enough. No matter what color they are. Hypocrites.

[robillionaire]

What about the the white yellow purple and orange people too? Or fuq them?

Are they disproportionately locked up compared to brown and black people?

They also commit a disproportionate amount of crime..

this is circular reasoning drug use is relatively the same across racial lines but black communities are selectively targeted for greater enforcement for drug crimes so no **** they'll be convicted of more crimes sherlock that's the issue

that said yes all people in jail for marijuana related crimes should be released and records expunged

[Meat]

What about the the white yellow purple and orange people too? Or fuq them?

Are they disproportionately locked up compared to brown and black people?

Wow what a weak response. Try doing the math. They also commit a disproportionate amount of crime. This whole argument is ridiculous. One person in jail for a BS charge is more than enough. No matter what color they are. Hypocrites.

you're a special kind of stupid arent you,

Nah. -JVG

[Polk377]

1st smart move Cuomo has made. NY needs the money and should bring in $300+ mil in taxes.

[Jeff Van Gully]

great news! big day for the state.

[Jeff Van Gully]

Are they disproportionately locked up compared to brown and black people?

Wow what a weak response. Try doing the math. They also commit a disproportionate amount of crime. This whole argument is ridiculous. One person in jail for a BS charge is more than enough. No matter what color they are. Hypocrites.

you're a special kind of stupid arent you,

meat- namecalling is not necessary, appropriate, or welcome.

AWTY- it is long known that marijuana arrests and incarcerations do not reflect use and partaking by race. stop it, AWTY. you always come in and cape for racism by downplaying the impacts of racism in a desire to suit your all lives matter narrative. this is a prime example of how racism has continued to work against POC.

but you'll come to any fight with this.

[SelbyCobra]

Congratulations from California!

[Jeff Van Gully]

Are they disproportionately locked up compared to brown and black people?

They also commit a disproportionate amount of crime..

this is circular reasoning drug use is relatively the same across racial lines but black communities are selectively targeted for greater enforcement for drug crimes so no **** they'll be convicted of more crimes sherlock that's the issue

that said yes all people in jail for marijuana related crimes should be released and records expunged

AWTY is being disingenuous. he knows this. and it takes away from whatever validity there could be to his platform.

[Jalen Bluntson]

Are they disproportionately locked up compared to brown and black people?

They also commit a disproportionate amount of crime..

this is circular reasoning drug use is relatively the same across racial lines but black communities are selectively targeted for greater enforcement for drug crimes so no **** they'll be convicted of more crimes sherlock that's the issue

that said yes all people in jail for marijuana related crimes should be released and records expunged

When more crimes are committed in a community...more people will be arrested for them from that community. I'm not getting into this because it is not even my point. There is no mandate to arrest only brown and black people. That's just ridiculous. There are social policies/laws and the like over the decades that have suppressed the minority communities that can be discussed. Leading to higher crimes. Still leaves personal responsibility out of the discussion but...whatever.

The fact remains...ANYONE in jail for these BS charges should be released. Not just brown and black. That's being racist.

[Jalen Bluntson]

They also commit a disproportionate amount of crime..

this is circular reasoning drug use is relatively the same across racial lines but black communities are selectively targeted for greater enforcement for drug crimes so no **** they'll be convicted of more crimes sherlock that's the issue

that said yes all people in jail for marijuana related crimes should be released and records expunged

AWTY is being disingenuous. he knows this. and it takes away from whatever validity there could be to his platform.

What? Yeah ok. Saying it doesn't matter about white people or asian people is flat out racist. FOH.

[SmoothLefty21]

Me in CT watching New York and Massachusetts legalize weed

Our state is in financial disarray but hey, let's pass on legalizing weed and implementing tolls.