Among the big, blue states, New York has been wildly backward on marijuana law. That may finally be changing. Governor Andrew Cuomo – who as recently as last year touted the prohibitionist myth that marijuana is a "gateway drug" – is about to receive a report from the state's health commissioner recommending a framework for legal, regulated marijuana in New York.
The report is not finalized, but Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker previewed its findings on Monday. "We looked at the pros, we looked at the cons, and when were done, we realized that the pros outweighed the cons," Mr. Zucker told reporters, "We have new facts."
The facts around marijuana have not changed, of course. The politics are what's different. Actor Cynthia Nixon is challenging Cuomo for governor from the left, and has made the unequal treatment of minority drug use and the legalization of pot a centerpiece of her campaign. "It shouldn't have taken Cuomo eight years" to evolve on pot, a spokesperson told the New York Times.
New York is also facing a reality check from neighboring New Jersey, where Republican Chris Christie is no longer around to give Cuomo cover for innaction. A Democratic regime is moving rapidly to liberalize marijuana laws. Governor Phil Murphy campaigned on legalizing recreational pot as a means of raising tax revenue and reducing incarceration in the state. He's called for the legislature to deliver a legalization bill by the end of the year and is budgeting $60 million in anticipated revenue from pot sales.