Cuomo Will to Push to Legalize Pot in 2021

For the last two years legislation to legalize adult recreational marijuana has failed to pass in New York. Although, there have been some steps forward. Like medical marijuana can now be legally prescribed by your doctor. Also, last year marijuana possession has been decriminalized and that increases the amount of weed you can possess without facing criminal charges and it expunged the records of those previously convicted of low-level drug charges. Now if you're caught with 5 pounds of the hippy leaf, you're probably going to jail.

Governor Cuomo also passed the Hemp Extract bill into law that continues to expand and strengthen the specific rules and licensing procedures for hemp growers in New York.

The main reason recreational marijuana has failed to pass in New York is because of disagreements about how to spend the new tax revenue that the state will see. Also, there were disagreements about whether or not towns in New York can "opt-out" of recreational marijuana. That doesn't mean that it won't be legal in those towns, it will just prevent a marijuana dispensary from locating in that town.

So, when can we expect the possibility of legal recreational marijuana...without having to drive to Massachusetts? According to www.NYUP.com, Governor Cuomo wants the legalization of marijuana included in the state’s 2021-2022 budget, which takes effect April 1. The pandemic really screwed up any possibility of legalization during 2020.

The other aspect of the legalization is CBD, the nonpsychoactive compound that is in marijuana that seems to have a lot of health benefits. CBD is legal in New York, but there's no provision for edible CBD like gummies and CBD drinks. The plan is to address that in the 2021-2022 budget.

So for now, I guess if you like the "Mary Jane" you'll have to drive to one of the states where it is legal.