In January, Governor Cuomo commissioned a multi-agency study, led by the Department of Health, to assess the impact of a regulated marijuana program in New York State. The Assessment of the Potential Impact of Regulated Marijuana in New York State was delivered to the Governor in July. The impact assessment examined the health, economic, public safety and criminal justice impact of a regulated marijuana program in New York State and the consequences to New York State of legalization in surrounding states.
Based on the findings of the study, the Governor announced the creation of a Regulated Marijuana Workgroup to provide advice to the State on legislative and regulatory approaches needed to protect public health, provide consumer protection, ensure public safety, address social justice issues and capture and invest tax revenue. The Workgroup includes subject matter experts from throughout the State and government representatives of public health, mental health, substance use, taxation and finance, law enforcement and public safety.
Next Step:
New York State is conducting a series of listening sessions on regulated marijuana to be held across the State in September and October. The goal of these sessions is to gain input from community members on the implementation of a regulated marijuana program.
There will be fifteen listening sessions in the following locations: Albany, Glens Falls, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, Newburgh, Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica and Watertown. Listening sessions, open to the public, will be held in the evening. To accommodate all those planning to attend, pre-registration is encouraged.
Sessions will be from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Doors open at 5:30 PM
Each of the areas below will be discussed:
•Reduce the harms of the illicit marijuana (e.g., consumer protections, industry safety, quality control).
•Reduce use of the unregulated market.
•Reduce youth use by establishing an age limit (e.g., individuals 21 and over).
•Ensure that the communities that were most affected by the criminalization of marijuana can participate in and benefit from the regulated market.
•Use of tax revenue for public good (e.g., program initiatives in public health, education, transportation, research, law enforcement, workforce development, and community reinvestment).
•Address the criminal records of individuals with marijuana-related offenses.
•Maintain New York State’s commitment to traffic safety.
•Ensure there is a means to make referrals for individuals who would benefit from treatment for problematic marijuana use.
•Provide education to ensure that New Yorkers are well-informed of the changes in the law, the effects of marijuana, and the risks of marijuana
•Continued access to marijuana for medical purposes consistent with the policies of New York State’s Medical Marijuana Program.
For more in-depth information on regulated marijuana, please visit: https://www.health.ny.gov/regulations/regulated_marijuana/.
Additional information will be provided after you register.
We look forward to hearing from you. Please submit any questions to: rmls@health.ny.gov.
