This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/18/new-york-cuomo-promise-legalize-marijuana
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cuomo’s promise to legalize marijuana 'once and for all' welcomed by advocates | Cuomo’s promise to legalize marijuana 'once and for all' welcomed by advocates |
| (30 days later) | |
| Campaigners to legalize marijuana have welcomed New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s promise to make the drug legal in the state, pushing it to the top of his legislative priorities next year. | Campaigners to legalize marijuana have welcomed New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s promise to make the drug legal in the state, pushing it to the top of his legislative priorities next year. |
| “Let’s legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana once and for all,” Cuomo said in a speech on Monday in Manhattan laying out his priorities as he prepares to begin a third term. | “Let’s legalize the adult use of recreational marijuana once and for all,” Cuomo said in a speech on Monday in Manhattan laying out his priorities as he prepares to begin a third term. |
| Cuomo framed the move to legalize the drug as a matter of fairness in the criminal justice system and after Cuomo’s announcement, advocates called for marijuana legislation to include expunging the records of people previously convicted of marijuana crimes. | Cuomo framed the move to legalize the drug as a matter of fairness in the criminal justice system and after Cuomo’s announcement, advocates called for marijuana legislation to include expunging the records of people previously convicted of marijuana crimes. |
| “New York should give the first licenses for selling legal marijuana to New Yorkers convicted of non-violent marijuana-related crimes and to minority and women-owned businesses,” said Amelia Adams, a spokeswoman for the group We Rise to Legalize. | “New York should give the first licenses for selling legal marijuana to New Yorkers convicted of non-violent marijuana-related crimes and to minority and women-owned businesses,” said Amelia Adams, a spokeswoman for the group We Rise to Legalize. |
| “A truly equitable and fair adult use program would expunge non-violent marijuana convictions from New Yorkers’ records, expand re-entry programs to people impacted by the war on drugs, and invest profits from new marijuana sales into communities of color,” Adams added. | “A truly equitable and fair adult use program would expunge non-violent marijuana convictions from New Yorkers’ records, expand re-entry programs to people impacted by the war on drugs, and invest profits from new marijuana sales into communities of color,” Adams added. |
| Cuomo gave few details about the proposal, quickly sparking questions about how marijuana sales would be handled, where tax revenue would go, and what would happen to people with past marijuana convictions. | Cuomo gave few details about the proposal, quickly sparking questions about how marijuana sales would be handled, where tax revenue would go, and what would happen to people with past marijuana convictions. |
| The position is a reversal for Cuomo, who last year called pot a “gateway drug” and said he was not convinced it should be legalized for recreational use. | The position is a reversal for Cuomo, who last year called pot a “gateway drug” and said he was not convinced it should be legalized for recreational use. |
| But he has moved closer to embracing full legalization, as 10 other states and Washington DC legalized the drug. Cuomo commissioned a study by the state Health Department, which recommended allowing recreational marijuana. | But he has moved closer to embracing full legalization, as 10 other states and Washington DC legalized the drug. Cuomo commissioned a study by the state Health Department, which recommended allowing recreational marijuana. |
| Neighboring New Jersey is also moving toward legalization, leading many to question how enforcement would be possible just across the river in New York and Cuomo to say that the “facts have changed” on the drug. | Neighboring New Jersey is also moving toward legalization, leading many to question how enforcement would be possible just across the river in New York and Cuomo to say that the “facts have changed” on the drug. |
| In New York City, police have stopped making arrests of most people caught holding or publicly smoking marijuana, giving them summonses instead. | In New York City, police have stopped making arrests of most people caught holding or publicly smoking marijuana, giving them summonses instead. |
| Medical marijuana is already permitted in New York. | Medical marijuana is already permitted in New York. |
| Legalizing recreational pot could generate $1.3bn a year in taxes for the state and city, a report found this year. | Legalizing recreational pot could generate $1.3bn a year in taxes for the state and city, a report found this year. |
| Democrats won control of the state senate in November’s midterm elections, making it likely that the legislature will be receptive to a legalization bill. | Democrats won control of the state senate in November’s midterm elections, making it likely that the legislature will be receptive to a legalization bill. |
| Debate has already started on where a tax windfall should go. One proposal, pushed by the former city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, would use the money to fix the city’s crumbling subway system. | Debate has already started on where a tax windfall should go. One proposal, pushed by the former city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, would use the money to fix the city’s crumbling subway system. |
| But that idea has drawn criticism from other officials, who say the money should be dedicated to initiatives to help the black and Latino communities who have been hardest hit by marijuana enforcement. In New York City, about 86% of those arrested for possession have been black and Latino. | But that idea has drawn criticism from other officials, who say the money should be dedicated to initiatives to help the black and Latino communities who have been hardest hit by marijuana enforcement. In New York City, about 86% of those arrested for possession have been black and Latino. |
| The call to legalize pot came amid a speech outlining a sweeping and largely liberal agenda from a governor who has moved to the left amid potential presidential ambitions, and a primary challenge from the left last year by the actor Cynthia Nixon. | The call to legalize pot came amid a speech outlining a sweeping and largely liberal agenda from a governor who has moved to the left amid potential presidential ambitions, and a primary challenge from the left last year by the actor Cynthia Nixon. |
| New York | New York |
| Drugs | Drugs |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |