Governor Andrew Cuomo isn’t the only politician who wants to see legalization of marijuana in the budget.

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes of Buffalo, one of the authors of the bill, told Spectrum News on Thursday that with a probable recession on the horizon, it’s more important now than it was before to pass a bill that will help poor black and brown communities.

While Peoples-Stokes says negotiations have been made much tougher by social distancing, staffers are holding meetings on this and other issues.

When asked what hurdles remain between lawmakers and the governor’s office, Peoples-Stokes replied, “Ask the governor’s office.”

Several revisions were made to the bill last week that would allow individuals to purchase cannabis from licensed retailers and cultivate up to six plants at a time for personal use.

The governor's office has not yet responded to a request for comment.