A push to legalize recreational marijuana in New York and New Jersey this year appears all but dead in both states, a dramatic fall for an effort that just over a month ago seemed inevitable.
For months, the two states were locked in a race to legalize, vying for millions in tax revenue and progressive bragging rights. But at the end of March, the campaign in New Jersey abruptly collapsed, hours before a vote was supposed to take place.
Many supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana in New York say they're still optimistic that lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo can work out a deal this year. But time is beginning to run out.
Cuomo initially wanted a provision legalizing cannabis to be included in the state budget passed April 1. He withdrew it after it became obvious lawmakers couldn't resolve thorny questions about the details of the legislation.
Now, those same devilish details could prevent a vote before lawmakers wrap up their session next month.
When lawmakers failed to include legalization of adult-use marijuana in their April budget, promises were made to tackle the issue in the second half of the legislative session, which runs through June.
But if you listen to the leaders this week, they don't sound confident it will get done.
"There is an understanding that there are certain things that we obviously must get done and then there are things that we need to work on. So we will continue to work on the issue of marijuana legalization as well," Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said.
In Albany, a legalization measure that once seemed as unstoppable as a locomotive ran completely off the rails. The push to include adult-use cannabis legalization in the New York Legislature’s 2019 state budget package officially died on Monday.
Legalizing marijuana in New York won't be happening soon.
As the final agreement on a state budget comes into form, legalizing pot won't make the cut, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders said.
Cuomo proposed a plan to tax and regulate marijuana as part of the budget for the fiscal year that starts Monday.
But Cuomo and lawmakers indicated in recent weeks that it was increasingly unlikely a deal could be reached. And Cuomo on Friday night made it official.
For much of his time in office, Governor Andrew Cuomo was dismissive of the calls to legalize recreational marijuana. He once derided weed as a “gateway drug” and only seemed to pivot when Cynthia Nixon ran a long-shot primary against him last year. Now Cuomo is a convert to the cause and a newly empowered Democratic State Senate appears ready to make New York the eleventh state to legalize marijuana.
To David R. Clifford of Auburn, it just makes sense: If marijuana becomes legal for adult recreational use in New York, he says, consumers should be able to grow their own.
“I can grow my own tomatoes or herbs," he said. “If I’m a beer drinker, I can grow my own hops and make some home brew. So why not let me grow my own cannabis?”
Even a cursory look at Andrew Cuomo’s record as New York Governor will reveal that he has been anything but a champion of progressive drug policy. As recently as 2017, Cuomo was still reacting to calls for legalization with anti-marijuana talking points and gateway theory. But the 2018 midterm elections changed the calculus. Facing more progressive challengers, and holding a Health Department report recommending adult-use legalization and full, retroactive decriminalization, Cuomo had to pivot his stance.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) took marijuana reform supporters by pleasant surprise when he endorsed legalization last year after previously calling cannabis a “gateway drug” that should remain prohibited. But for advocates, there was at least one major disappointment in store when he got around to revealing the details of his plan: the proposal, unveiled as part of his budget last month, would ultimately include a ban on home cultivation of recreational marijuana.
After compromising on legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour, Gov. Phil Murphy's administration is back on the same page — or at least a similar one — with Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
The newfound collaboration has cannabis entrepreneurs and advocates hopeful that a legal weed law could be enacted before the spring.