Stoners Rejoice: New York State Has Officially Legalized Weed
Source - New York state lawmakers struck a deal Wednesday to legalize marijuana, legislative sources said — just hours after Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the move “essential” to the state’s social and economic well-being.
The reform measures will be included in the laws that are set to be proposed as part of the state budget due on April 1, the sources said.
The deal would allow New Yorkers over the age of 21 to legally buy and possess up to 3 ounces of pot for their personal use, with sales by licensed dispensaries to begin as early as December 2022, sources said.
Recreational stoners could even cultivate up to six plants each, or a dozen per household, but a big bummer in the agreement would make them wait to start growing their own until 18 months after the first dispensary opens, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle said.
Just so we're clear- no one actually cares about this, right? I feel like everyone who wants to get high gets high. The only difference is now you're going to have a million ways do it. Cookies, candy, tinctures- all the stuff your neighborhood drug dealer doesn't have you can now get in a store. Which is cool, I guess, but then again...is it? Does that stuff matter to people or am I just old? I thought smoking a bowl scratched the itch, but apparently people want more ways to get high.
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Here are some of the details surrounding the legalization...
Plans call for a 9 percent state tax on retail sales that could generate $300 million a year in new revenues, state Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) told The Post.
Cities, towns and villages that don’t opt out of allowing local sales or deliveries could also tack on another 4 percent tax.
The deal includes the creation of a new state regulatory agency, the Office of Cannabis Management, to license growers, retail sales, delivery and on-premises consumption, Krueger said.
Still-unresolved issues include how the tax money would be distributed beyond funding the new agency, with plans calling for 40 percent dedicated to school aid, 40 percent to social equity grants and the remaining 20 to treatment and public education.
Shocker, it all comes down to money. Who knows how long it will be before stores start popping up in the city, but I'll pay a visit to one once they do and report back. Chances are it's going to be wildly underwhelming. Now here's my favorite scene from Pineapple Express. Enjoy…
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