Tagged With: York
New York: This is not a Green Rush, This is a Justice Rush
Roc NORML was in the news earlier this week talking about what consumers and activists want to see included in the legislation currently being drafted to frame New York’s adult-use cannabis market. The legislation is being drafted by a work group, put together by Governor Cuomo, and we’re anticipating a first draft of the legislation … Continue reading
Take This Short Survey to Help Shape Marijuana Policy in New York
How much cannabis do you consume? How much do you pay for your cannabis? How much extra would you pay for cannabis delivery? How often do you share your cannabis with friends? New York State plans to legalize cannabis for adult-use with the 2019 Budget in April. The time is NOW to make your voice … Continue reading
New York: Brooklyn DA Intends To Vacate Thousands Of Past Marijuana Convictions
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez at a press conference today announced his intent to vacate over ten thousand low-level marijuana convictions. Though state lawmakers decriminalized minor marijuana possession offenses in 1977, possessing small amounts of cannabis “in public view” remains a criminal misdemeanor. City police have made several hundred thousand arrests since the late 1990s … Continue reading
New York: State-Commissioned Study Calls For Legalizing Adult Marijuana Use
A state-commissioned study released today by the New York Department of Health recommends replacing cannabis criminalization with a policy of adult use legalization. The 74-page study, entitled “Assessment of the Potential Impact of Regulated Marijuana in New York State,” acknowledges the following: “Regulating marijuana can reduce opioid use;” “Regulating marijuana may lead to a reduction … Continue reading
New Report By New York City Police Department On Marijuana Criminalization
The new Report by the New York City Police Department’s “Working Group” is more window dressing than an actual policy change. It appears to be an elaborate 20-page rationalization to continue the present enforcement protocol without any real progress on the policing front. As of today, the policy continues to leave it to the relatively … Continue reading
New York: State-Commissioned Report Will Recommend Legalizing Marijuana
A forthcoming report commissioned by the Governor’s office is set to recommend that lawmakers legalize and regulate the possession and sale of marijuana by adults. According to statements made today by New York State health commissioner Howard Zucker, the report’s authors have concluded that “a regulated, legal marijuana program [ought to] be available to adults … Continue reading
Progressive Policy Change In New York City
In a surprise joint press conference, Cyrus Vance Jr. and Eric Gonzalez, the respective District Attorneys of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City, both announced that with limited exception low-level marijuana-related offenses would no longer be prosecuted. Both cited a six-month-long study that revealed that there was no discernible impact upon issues of public … Continue reading
New York: Patients Using Fewer Opioids Following Enrollment In Medical Cannabis Program
Patients enrolled in New York state’s medical cannabis program reduce their use of opioids and spend less money on prescription medications, according to data published online in the journal Mental Health Clinician. Investigators from the GPI Clinical Research in Rochester and the University of Buffalo assessed trends in patients’ medical cannabis and prescription drug use … Continue reading
Buffalo/Western New York: Blacks Disproportionately Arrested For Minor Marijuana Offenses
African Americans in the city of Buffalo (population 257,000) are disproportionately arrested for low-level marijuana possession offenses, according to an analysis of arrest data by the advocacy group Partnership for the Public Good. Researchers evaluated marijuana arrest data for Erie County, New York for the years 2012 to 2016. Countywide, blacks comprised 71 percent of … Continue reading
New York State’s Marijuana Working Group is Taking Public Comments on Legalization Legislation
A listening session was held Thursday evening in Rochester, New York to get feedback about what the community wants to see in the legislation currently being drafted to legalize cannabis for adult use in NY. See the full list of listening sessions happening state-wide here. The legislation being drafted is set to pass next April … Continue reading »