BP’s legal pot proposal: clear criminal records & grow business
BY ALEX MITCHELL
AMNEWYORK REPORTER
When it comes to legalizing recreational
marijuana use in New York
state, Borough President Ruben Diaz
Jr. says it’s not a matter of ‘if’, but
‘when’ — and now he’s looking at how
it can grow opportunities for everyone.
Diaz’ offi ce is hashing out six proposals
on how the Bronx can benefi t
from upcoming business opportunities—
should pot be legalized.
“Just legalizing marijuana and
not addressing the entire world of
ramifi cations that would come isn’t
fi nishing the job,” Diaz said.
He believes recreational marijuana
use will likely be permitted in
New York state before the end of 2020
since efforts to legalize pot took a hit
in Albany earlier this year.
“I am relieved that there is now
time to map out a course of action
about how to address surrounding issues,”
Diaz said.
Upon legalization, he proposes
clearing criminal records for any lowlevel
marijuana offenders in the state
— something which was proposed in
this year’s legalization efforts.
“Eliminating convictions from a
person’s records comes in two forms
– sealing (records) and expungement,”
his proposal indicated, noting
that an expungement bill was passed
in Albany as part of the state’s marijuana
decriminalization efforts in
June.
He also calls on second chances for
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 4 CTOBER 25-31, 2019 BTR
job applicants that failed drug tests
with marijuana in their systems.
“Employers should be encouraged
to call these job-seekers back for future
openings,” Diaz’s report stated.
He also said specifi cally that the
city should take a forgiving approach
at its employees whom had failed
drug tests because of pot in their systems.
The borough president also wants
to spark a deal with banks that would
encourage fi nanciers to invest in
small business ‘mom and pot’ shops.
“Banks are reluctant to engage
with the marijuana industry,” the report
explained.
Diaz also expressed interest in
working with the private sector to
create a capital investment fund,
while also showing similar sentiment
towards how equity in NYS licensed
facilities should be distributed
too.
He fears that many city based
small businesses will be either dubious
or outmatched by big business
when it comes to applying for a marijuana
business license because of its
high cost and legal fees.
“The state should ensure access to
funds for small marijuana businesses
so that the industry is not dominated
by larger businesses that do not refl
ect the diversity of the state,” the
report stated.
Diaz said he wants to strike a deal
with the city’s Economic Development
Corporation to help small businesses
with licensing protocols.
“That’s why this can’t be rushed,”
he said, noting that safeguards
should be put in place to protect both
equity and ownership within New
York rather than it be outsourced—
like in other states where the drug is
currently legal.
“Not only do we want to see people
doing business in the Bronx, but also
with the Bronx,” the borough president
said.
He also urges the state to have a
joint effort with Congress as far as
passing federal laws that would protect
banks and other fi nancial institutions
from facing prosecution
regarding legal, cannabis-related activities.
“There are many in Congress that
are vocal about legalization on both
sides of the fl oor,” Diaz said.
Additionally, Diaz wants to see
the pot economy revenue benefi ts to
be passed around low income and minority
areas throughout New York
in the form of community reinvestment.
“In the Bronx I could see the revenue
from this going towards mental
health agencies and violence reduction
ones as well,” Diaz said, noting
that many communities which need
those assets have been previously
marginalized by the criminalization
of the drug.
Diaz also said he would also put
the money towards cultural institutions
— acknowledging that pot likely
would continue to inspire much of
the city’s artistic community.Diaz’s
report also targets issues that come
along with parents that test positive
for pot, specifi cally noting that a positive
drug test for marijuana is suffi
cient to start a child neglect investigation.
“This is the one time that we
should be talking policy in a smoke
fi lled room and have these issues
hashed out,” Diaz bluntly said.
Borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. (center).