Legal Marijuana In NY Would Do More Good Than Harm, State Says

NEW YORK, NY — Legalizing recreational marijuana in New York would do more good than harm, given the potential benefits to public health, social justice and the state's coffers, a state report published Friday says. The state Department of Health's report recommends setting up a regulated marijuana market for adults 21 and older, but acknowledges the process of legalization will be "dynamic."

"The positive effects of a regulated marijuana market in (New York State) outweigh the potential negative impacts," the report says. "Areas that may be a cause for concern can be mitigated with regulation and proper use of public education that is tailored to address key populations."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo commissioned the report in January, saying New York needed to evaluate legalization since it had taken place in nearby Massachusetts and New Jersey has made moves toward it.

Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said last month that the report would back legalization.

Marijuana is legal for recreational use in nine states, and several political figures have gotten behind legalization — including Cynthia Nixon, Cuomo's Democratic primary opponent in this year's gubernatorial race.

With a potential value of up to $3.5 billion, New York would be one of the nation's largest regulated marijuana markets if the drug were legalized here, the report says. It estimates taxes on marijuana could generate as much as $677.7 million in revenue in the first year.

Legalization could benefit public health by allowing for government oversight of production and distribution and control over licensing and age restrictions for the drug, the report says.

It would also address the harm that the "over-prosecution of marijuana" has had on low-income communities of color, the report says. The Department of Health recommended that the state expunge the criminal records of people with pot-related offenses.

The report notes that the implementation of legal marijuana in other states has been accompanied by "extensive educational campaigns.

"It is important to understand that effective implementation and regulation will be an ongoing process that will take continued work from State and local officials," the report says. "Every step of a regulated marijuana program will require planning and regulation."

It's uncertain when state lawmakers may act to make legalization a reality. The state Legislature adjourned for the year last month and is not set to reconvene until January.

The Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group, praised the report's support for legalization but said any steps toward implementing it should guarantee investments to repair the damage done by the drug's criminalization.

"Now that the report has been released and its conclusions presented, we are hopeful that the Governor and the Legislature can fully shift to examining the 'how' and move on from the 'if,'" Chris Alexander, the group's policy coordinator, said in a statement.

Read the full state Department of Health report below.

(Lead image: Photo from Shutterstock)