Gov. Andrew Cuomo released new details of his plan to legalize adult-use marijuana, including paving the way for pot delivery.
Cuomo says legalization is projected to create more than 60,000 new jobs and spur $3.5 billion in economic activity while generating approximately $350 million in tax revenue once fully implemented.
The governor also called for reduced penalties when it comes to some marijuana-related charges, in an effort to reduce the impact on communities hit hardest by the war on drugs. One amendment calls for criminal sale to a minor to be reduced to a class A misdemeanor. The charge is currently a felony that carries a $5,000 and up to seven years in prison.
Cuomo also proposed to allow delivery services for marijuana, which he says would open the industry to more New Yorkers.
"I think that has a lot of us saying -- wait a minute. We haven't even set up the basic structure for the program," says drug treatment expert Jeff Reynolds, of the Family & Children's Association. "We haven't fully analyzed what the impact of alcohol delivery during COVID has been and the sense is that alcohol use went up among adults."
Mark Bottoms, of the New Hope Crisis Center in Freeport, says he agrees with legalization but thinks that reducing charges for selling to a minor would "cause havoc."
Cuomo did not provide details as to what the delivery services would look like. As part of this, local governments would have the opportunity to opt out from delivery services occurring within their jurisdiction.