EMPIRE STATE NORML MEDIA ADVISORY ON NEW YORK STATE GOVERNOR CUOMO’S FY 2020 BUDGET BILL TO END 91 YEARS OF MARIJUANA PROHIBITION

For Immediate Release
media@empirestatenorml.com

David Holland, Esq., Executive and Legal Director-(212) 842-2480, dch@hollandlitigation.com
Doug Greene-(516) 242-4666, doug@empirestatenorml.com
Troy Smit-(631) 806-9189, troy@empirestatenorml.com  

Tomorrow New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo will be releasing his FY 2020 executive budget, including a budget bill to tax and regulate marijuana.

“We’re cautiously optimistic that Governor Cuomo’s proposal will reflect Empire State NORML’s core values, including home grow provisions, automatic sealing of criminal records for low level marijuana convictions and infrastructure reinvestment in communities that have been most affected by prohibition,” said Doug Greene, Empire State NORML’s Legislative Director.

Some of the provisions that Empire State NORML’s membership have called for include: (1) allowing adults 21 and over to cultivate marijuana at home; (2) vacatur and re-sentencing of people convicted of marijuana crimes that will be made legal or subject to a reduced sentence under the bill, as well as sealing of any associated criminal records (preferably automatically); (3) earmarking a majority of tax revenues from legalization to the communities most impacted by marijuana prohibition; (4) creating a robust social equity program that’s narrowly tailored to withstand potential legal challenges and includes micro businesses and low and tiered license fees; and (5) permitting social consumption sites.

“It’s our belief that with these components, New York’s adult program will lead the nation. We don’t need to create a whole new industry from the bottom up, but instead to legalize, revolutionize and regulate an industry that already exists,” said Troy Smit, Empire State NORML’s Deputy Director.

The Empire State NORML leadership listed above will be available on Tuesday for commentary on and analysis of Governor Cuomo’s marijuana legalization bill.  Empire State NORML is the New York State chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the United States’ oldest marijuana reform advocacy organization.