NEW YORK STATE lawmakers and marijuana advocates are scrambling to make progress on marijuana legalization before the end of the year's legislative session Wednesday.
Talks between Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office and the leaders of the Democrat-controlled New York Legislature took place this weekend over a measure to legalize possession and sale of cannabis, though there are reports that those talks hit a snag Sunday night over how marijuana tax revenue would be distributed.
Cuomo campaigned on marijuana legalization and has said it is a top priority, but efforts faltered after legalization was left out of the state budget in April. Momentum also petered out after neighboring New Jersey shelved a similar legalization effort this spring.
Now, New York state lawmakers are attempting to reach a last-minute deal on a legalization bill and secure enough votes in the state Senate.