Legal Marijuana may become a reality in the Empire state thanks, in part, to a little peer pressure from our neighbors and a shift in tone from governor Andrew Cuomo. Here’s everything you need to know.
The legalization of the recreational use of marijuana has been political fodder for years now, with little movement for those of us in the Empire State. That may be about to change in the near future thanks to a change in tone from Governor Cuomo and New Jersey’s new push towards legalization.
Now that Democrat Phil Murphy has been sworn into office as New Jersey Governor, the garden state is likely to get greener a lot sooner than expected. Cannabis legalization was a key part of the incoming governor’s campaign platform. Way before his victory, in June 2016, the Murphy had said:
“The criminalization of marijuana has only served to clog our courts and cloud people’s futures, so we will legalize marijuana, […] And while there are financial benefits, this is overwhelmingly about doing what is right and just.”
In what could be a case of statewide peer pressure, our own Governor Cuomo seems to be walking back his opposition to the legalization of cannabis. A year ago, Cuomo told reporters:
“It’s a gateway drug, and marijuana leads to other drugs and there’s a lot of proof that that’s true, […] There’s two sides to the argument. But I, as of this date, I am unconvinced on recreational marijuana.”
Fast forward one year, within a week of the New Jersey Governors swearing-in ceremony, Governor Cuomo called for the state to form a panel to advise him on the prospect of legalizing marijuana at his annual budget address last week.
Last autumn, a Gallup poll revealed a massive 64% of Americans are in favor of legal weed. As if that weren’t enough of reason to readdress the way NYC treats the drug, recreational marijuana is now being discussed in Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont, it’s about time New York got in on the action.
The good news? If things don’t change anytime soon in New York, for those of us in NYC, a legal dose of the devil’s lettuce will only be a train ride away.
Featured image source [pexels]