Dozens of progressive organizations, faith-based groups, and labor unions on Friday endorsed the legalization of cannabis in New York as advocates make a final push to win passage of the measure in the coming days.
The measure has the backing of labor unions 1199SEIU and 32BJ as well as the NAACP New York Conference.
State lawmakers have said they are close to reaching an agreement on a bill that would allow for the sale of legal cannabis products in the state, as well as allow residents to grow a limited number of marijuana plants in their homes.
“Any legalization effort that purports to be responsive to the devastation of the marijuana arrest crusade in New York must center social equity and direct tax revenue from sales toward the communities that are still reeling from decades of biased enforcement, which the governor has recognized. And legislation must include specific language to resolve the devastating collateral consequences of marijuana criminalization in the fields of housing, employment, child welfare, and immigration,” the groups said in a joint statement.
Still, opponents have also organized their final lobbying efforts, with the state's district attorneys opposed to the legalization measure, as well as groups like the New York State PTA.
Meanwhile, lawmakers have hit a perennial roadblock with the bill over traffic safety concerns stemming from legalization.