New York's Health Department Plans to Recommend Legalizing Marijuana
Source: NYT
ALBANY A study commissioned by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will recommend that a regulated, legal marijuana program be available to adults in the state, the New York State health commissioner said on Monday.
The announcement by the commissioner, Howard Zucker, comes after a fast evolution in the thinking of Mr. Cuomo, a second-term Democrat who said as recently as last year that marijuana was a gateway drug.
In more recent months, however, Mr. Cuomo has said that facts have changed around the drug, and in January he commissioned a report with the mission of determining the consequences from legalization efforts in New Jersey and Massachusetts, and what would that do to New York because its right in the middle.
We looked at the pros, we looked at the cons, and when were done, we realized that the pros outweighed the cons, Mr. Zucker said, adding, We have new facts.
Read more: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/nyregion/new-york-marijuana-legalization.html
Voltaire2
(12,626 posts)legalization is a winning political issue. Meanwhile it remains a sad fact that last week they were all fine with prison for pot.
mpcamb
(2,855 posts)Some have a death toll, others, not so much.
Drugs or Substances listed in DEA Schedule I may include:
Heroin (diacetylmorphine)
LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
Marijuana (cannabis, THC)
Mescaline (Peyote)
MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine or ecstasy)
GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) - except formulations in an FDA-approved drug product sodium oxybate (Xyrem) are Schedule III
Ecstasy (MDMA or 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
Psilocybin
Synthetic marijuana and analogs (Spice, K2)
Methaqualone (Quaalude)
Khat (Cathinone)
Bath Salts (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone or MDPV)
xor
(1,204 posts)via criminal background checks and ridiculous probation fees/requirements.
I'm very straight edge and don't do any drugs or have any criminal record, but I've see these counterproductive laws ruin people's lives. They help put these people in such desperate situations that it only increases their chances of going deeper in drugs and perhaps even criminal activities. I'm sure some places around the country handle this better by not destroying lives, but it doesn't seem to be the norm as far as I can tell.
cannabis_flower
(3,764 posts)have not changed, only Governor Cuomo's perception of the facts.
EarthFirst
(2,877 posts)Tis the season!
eggplant
(3,893 posts)New Yorkers will take their business out of state, and that just won't do. There's a ton of tax dollars waiting to be collected.
A similar change occurred in Mass some time ago regarding the state's "blue laws" (no liquor sales on Sundays) -- Liquor stores along the borders are allowed to stay open on Sundays, in order to keep the revenue inside the state.
Hopefully, the existing MMJ system will continue to exist, in order for patients to avoid the high taxes (as it were).
Response to eggplant (Reply #4)
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eggplant
(3,893 posts)CountAllVotes
(20,854 posts)and a big joke!
You shouldn't bother renewing a 215 card. Waste of $.
eggplant
(3,893 posts)CO and MA (I believe) both exclude MMJ from sin taxes. NY waved the $50/year card fee pretty much from the start. You still have to pay a doctor for a recommendation (Rx) which isn't covered by insurance, though. (My wife's Dr. charged $300 for the visit, but I believe they offered a sliding scale for the poor.)
NY is still very restrictive of the formats one can get MMJ in. The dispensary we go to only offers tinctures, pre-loaded vape cartridges, and (now) capsules. I believe other places offer some edibles, but I think that's it.
Response to eggplant (Reply #9)
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