The New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, has disseminated more information about his cannabis authorization reform. The information includes efforts to reinvest in territories most affected by the drugs war.
This comes after Cuomo’s state of the public address last week, where he asserted implementing the policy change could alleviate the economy while boosting social equity. He launched his agenda’s layout that offers more details about the atmosphere of the state’s legal marijuana market. On Tuesday, Andrew is expected to launch a complete budget proposal, that entails a clearer legislative language.
The State of the State Book released late last week states that the governor’s new proposal would set up a Cannabis Regulation Department to oversee the program and develop best practices and state parameters to foster responsible cannabis consumption.
The department will also provide strong economic and social equity perks to ensure the state’s regulation will generate an egalitarian recreational market structure that enables market entry and sustained share of the market for communities and entrepreneurs hardest hit by marijuana criminalization.
The State Book also asserts that the proposal will undo past wrongs by investing in regions that were disproportionately impacted by the drugs by expunging past marijuana0related convictions. However, it fails to tackle the lasting impacts that marijuana-related arrests have had on communities, families and citizens.
That’s crucial, as Cuomo has previously called for a cannabis tax revenue to be featured in New York’s general fund, instead of particularly apportioning resources for society reinvestment, as certain activists and legislators have recommended.
There are a lot of expectations about the governor’s upcoming budget concerning investing in areas affected by previous prohibition enforcement.
Andrew has featured decriminalization in his previous two-yearly fiscal plans, however, the matter has constantly stagnated due to negotiation issues. However, the legislature carries more power this year after triumphing in last year’s election.
