New York Governor and Legislative Leaders Reach Pot Deal

A three-way deal over the weekend appears to be clearing a way for approval of recreational marijuana in New York State.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie overnight March 27 reached a deal on the legislation that would regulate and tax the legal sale of marijuana for other than for medicinal use.

Some of the provisions in the bill include establishing the Office of Cannabis Management to enforce a comprehensive regulatory framework for both medical and adult-use marijuana, governed by a five-member board. Three members would be appointed by the Governor, one by the house and one by the Senate. Cities, towns and villages could opt out of allowing marijuana shops by passing local laws.  The State Department of Health and universities would research detection of cannabis-impaired driving.  Home growing would be permitted with a limit on the number of mature and immature plants per adult or household.

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The measure also outline how funds from marijuana would distributed with 40 percent going to education, 40 percent to community grants and 20 percent to drug treatment and education.

The bill also allows automatic expungement or resentencing for anyone with a previous marijuana conviction that would actually be legal under the new law.

The final plan still needs approval by the full legislature.