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 low-level 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 job applicants
that failed drug tests with
marijuana in their systems.
“Employers should be
encouraged to call these jobseekers
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
3 BRONX WEEKLY October 27, 2019 www.BXTimes.com
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Borough president Ruben Diaz, Jr. (center).
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