As Gov. Phil Murphy delivered his first State of the State speech Tuesday, listing marijuana legalization as a top priority for 2019, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out his vision for legalizing the drug in his own state.
Cuomo unveiled long-awaited details of his legalization proposal during a simultaneous State of the State address in Albany, calling on lawmakers to send him legislation by April. That timeline that could put New York on track to clear the way for retail marijuana sales ahead of New Jersey, where a similar effort has been stalled for months.
If New Jersey policymakers care about maximizing tax revenue from legal weed, New York’s effort could add pressure on Murphy and legislative leaders to strike a deal. New Jersey stands to gain customers from neighboring New York and Pennsylvania if it becomes the next state to legalize small amounts of marijuana for adult recreational use.