A working group has been formed to develop legislation for legalizing marijuana for commercial use, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office on Thursday announced.
The working group will be overseen by the Cuomo administration’s top counsel, Alphonso David, and include officials from the public health community, law enforcement and academia.
The panel is being formed after a report from the state Department of Health recommending the legalization of marijuana, including a tax plan should it be allowed.
“I have reviewed the multi-agency report commissioned last January and have discussed its findings with Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker,” Cuomo said.
“The next steps must be taken thoughtfully and deliberately. As we work to implement the report’s recommendations through legislation, we must thoroughly consider all aspects of a regulated marijuana program, including its impact on public health, criminal justice and State revenue, and mitigate any potential risks associated with it. I thank the members of the workgroup for their time and expertise as we work to craft a model program.”
Cuomo had initially announced the report in January during his State of the State address. In April, his Democratic primary opponent Cynthia Nixon embraced a push for the legalization of marijuana in New York as part of a criminal justice reform issue.
Cuomo has been hesitant on the issue of expanding the scope of who should be allowed to use marijuana. He was initially skeptical of a medical marijuana program which he later backed. Cuomo has said the “facts have changed” on the issue, given the neighboring states that are pursuing legalized marijuana.