STATEMENT TO THE PRESS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact for Press Inquiries:  Troy Smit | 631-806-9189 | Troy@EmpireStateNORML.com 

New York State lawmakers on the verge of passing an amended version of the MRTA 

Marijuana Justice and Cannabis Consumers rights at the forefront of amended MRTA

Albany, New York:​ New York State lawmakers introduced S.854A/A.1248A, an amended version of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”). This legislation championed by Senator Krueger and Assemblywoman Peoples-Stokes since 2013 embodies most of the core-principles of marijuana justice and consumer rights. For more than a decade, advocates have worked towards this goal, and Senator Krueger believes all that work will come to inception, and this bill may get a vote as early as this week.

Having the moniker of being the cannabis arrest capital of the world, New York is set to effectively reverse that decades-old designation. As home to the largest market of cannabis consumers in the nation, the improvements legislators incorporated into the bill will help protect the rights of millions of New Yorkers. This legislation appears to respect the balance between the rights and freedoms of cannabis consumers, and marijuana justice. The provisions provide for authorizing personal cultivation, automatic expungement of past criminal records, on-site consumption, delivery,  etc.  If the bill is passed as is, this legislation can make New York a leader in the nation. 

NORML still sees much work to be done with regulators to ensure the legacy market, along with the current consumers, are thoughtfully integrated into the legal market in a meaningful way. We look forward to working with our membership, the Office of Cannabis Management, and elected officials on directing our advocacy towards enacting strong consumer-oriented regulations once this bill comes to a vote.  

David Holland, Executive & Legal Director, Empire State NORML - New York’s anticipated legalization of cannabis propels it again to a leadership role in the nation. Under the MRTA, once persecuted and criminalized people, cultures, and communities will be prioritized through job creation and investment opportunity to rebuild that which was so tragically torn apart by the false and failed War on Drugs. Cannabis is not only a valid and viable medicine but an industry built around it will help these people and communities heal as the State moves forward on a more equitable and enlightened path to progress.”

Troy Smit, Founder of Long Island NORML & Deputy Director of Empire State NORML - “As a membership-based consumer advocacy organization, NORML is pleased to see consumer-centric policies included in the legislation, like home cultivation and onsite consumption, issues our members are very concerned about. I’m confident that through the steadfast leadership provided on this issue by Senator Krueger and Assemblywoman Peoples-Stokes, consumers will be able to finally let loose and smell the flowers, without fear of prosecution. Passing this bill would be a huge victory for all those who have been harmed by prohibition.” 

Mary Kruger, Executive Director, ROC NORML - “We are excited and optimistic about the negotiations that have been reached thus far. The key components we’ve been fighting for - justice, equity, and reinvestment - are all intricately woven into the fabric of this legislation. We were never fighting for legalization at any means necessary - we were always fighting for smart legalization the protects consumers and begins to right the wrongs and harms of marijuana prohibition, and this bill does just that. The bill isn’t perfect and there will always be work for us to do when fighting for marijuana justice and consumer rights, but we are happy with the negotiations so far and now we need our leaders to hold the line and get this bill passed.”

Penelope Hamilton Crescibene, Executive Director of Western New York NORML - “Ensuring that our cities such as Buffalo are equitably represented as well as our rural agricultural communities is no easy task. We appreciate our legislators’ efforts in this and look forward to the details of these negotiations, knowing that there’s much work to be done in the future.”

Ryan Lepore, Interim Executive Director of NYC NORML - "Our chapter is electrified upon the idea that legislation representative of justice and the long-standing work of the advocacy community is finally being considered for NYC's ever-changing future. New York City consumers and specifically its marginalized communities have been in the crosshairs of oppression and criminalization for far too long. We must continue to advocate and ensure our state’s incoming regulatory process truly provides regenerative, restorative, and equitable opportunities for our diverse legacy and consumer population."

Empire State NORML is a 501(c)4 advocacy organization and the state affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (“NORML”). Empire State NORML's mission is to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high-quality marijuana that is safe, convenient, and affordable.