BY ARIAMA C. LONG
With the legalization of
marijuana bill language fi nalized
city electeds and advocates
wait with bated breaths
for the expected vote on the legislation
next week.
“I am very proud that we fi -
nally have a three-way agreed
bill to legalize adult-use cannabis
in a way that foregrounds
racial justice, while balancing
safety with economic growth,
encouraging new small businesses,
and signifi cantly diminishing
the illegal market,”
said Senator Liz Krueger, who
lead sponsor the bill in the Senate.
Assembly Majority Leader
Crystal Peoples-Stokes said
she was “thrilled” about the
agreement. “Cannabis legalization
in New York will be
centered on equity, investment
into communities, economic
opportunities for historically
disenfranchised people, research,
education, and public
safety. I am honored to sponsor
this legislation and excited to
see the positive impact it will
have for so many New Yorkers,”
said Peoples-Stokes.
The bill nailed down how
the revenue should be spent
and is largely outside of the
City Comptroller offi ce, but
many candidates running for
the offi ce this year still advocate
for the cannabis industry
because of its impact on racial
BRONX TIMES R 8 EPORTER, APRIL 2-8, 2021
and criminal justice. Other
candidates have weighed in
that the expected money making
bill should also defi nitely
benefi t the economy and small
business sector in the city.
Manhattan Senator Brian
Benjamin said this has been a
big issue for him. As a champion
of criminal justice reform
in the Senate, he’s co-sponsoring
the bill.
“I have been involved in the
conversation around legalizing
adult-use cannabis since I
was fi rst elected to the Senate,
and I have always been focused
on making one thing a priority:
equity. First, that meant
expunging the records of those
whose lives were impacted
by marijuana-related arrests,
which I helped accomplish last
session,” said Benjamin.
“This year, the bill I am cosponsoring
brings our state a
step closer to achieving equity
by not only ensuring that licenses
go to the communities
that have suffered from overpolicing
and disproportionate
rates of marijuana-related arrests,
but also that we direct
revenue to those communities.
The legislation, which I
will be proud to vote for this
week, will direct tax receipts
from adult-use cannabis sales
to education, drug treatment,
and other programs to assist
impacted communities in undoing
the harm caused by the
criminalization of cannabis,”
said Benjamin.
Jawanza James Williams,
Director of Organizing with
VOCAL-NY, co-signed that the
legislation was major for Black
and Brown communities.
“After a lifetime of violence
through marijuana prohibition,
causing the unjust caging
of Black, brown, and poor
communities, and unmitigated
collateral consequences, both
structural and psychological,
we are slated to fi nally begin
to offer truth and restitution to
those most impacted,” said Williams.
“Our primarily Black
and brown membership across
the state of NY may fi nally see
legislation that actually responds
to their lived experiences
by offering the dignity
of recognition and pathways to
economic elevation. We should
expect nothing less.”
Brooklyn Councilmember
Brad Lander, said that a new
legal and regulated cannabis
industry is an economic opportunity
for New York. “But
one that we must ensure directly
benefi ts those who have
been most harmed by the war
on drugs and mass incarceration,”
said Lander.
Legislaters offer their pros and
cons of recreational weed iStock
Comptroller
Candidates Weigh-in
On Weed Bill
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