Legislature considers recreational and medicinal marijuana laws
By KELLY FAY
With the governor pushing a pilot program for medical marijuana in New York, legislation has been proposed which would allow the state to join Colorado and Washington in legalizing recreational marijuana.
The bill, (A.08341/S.06005) known as the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, would regulate marijuana as it does alcohol and eliminate penalties for those over 18 years of age in possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana as well as permit the cultivation of up to six plants. The legislation would also impose an excise tax of $50 an ounce, a portion of which would be directed to substance abuse and job training programs in areas with low-income and high-unemployment.
"I'm not advocating marijuana use," Senate sponsor Liz Krueger said. "I'm advocating common-sense public policy that will keep our kids safer, eliminate a practice that creates racial disparities in our justice system, dry up a funding source for organized crime, and raise tremendous revenue for the state that we can reinvest into re-entry programs, substance abuse treatment, and the state's General Fund."
Krueger, D-Manhattan, said the current policy in New York has made it easier for young people to obtain marijuana than alcohol or cigarettes because all sales happen outside the law. According to her, regulating marijuana with age restrictions would make it more difficult for those underage to gain access.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-01-13-86370.113122-Legislature-considers-recreational-and-medicinal-marijuana-laws.html