Sanders talks legalizing marijuana
Queens lawmaker champions decriminalizing but warns of ‘gateway drug’ potential
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
A recent conversation
session in Jamaica explored
the possibilities that legalizing
marijuana would have on the
“World’s Borough.”
State Senator James
Sanders Jr. held the second
of a two-part session
hosting conversations about
legalizing recreational
marijuana throughout New
York state and what sort
of impact it would have
on Queens.
While the first session,
which took place on Feb. 2,
looked at potential effects of
marijuana on the community,
the second session on April
6 examined the money and
policies aspect of the issue,
focusing specifically on how
to best structure regulations
surrounding marijuana and
where to direct taxes derived
from pot sales.
The April 6 meeting was
held at Black Spectrum Theatre
in Jamaica. While Sanders
himself does not support
legalizing marijuana, he does
support decriminalization
of marijuana.
“We are here, my friends,
because the legalization of
marijuana is a moment away in
terms of government,” Sanders
said. “The only thing that
has slowed it down are some
technicalities. I am personally
not in favor of legalization.
I believe, for some, this will
be a gateway to other drugs.
We need to seriously examine
when the government becomes
the pusher.”
While panelists and
audience members expressed
different points of view
throughout the session,
many people agreed that if
recreational marijuana were
to become legal, it should
be regulated in a way that
ensures equity so that it isn’t
just a select group who can
profit from cannabis industry
and should also include
a robust drug treatment
and public education
campaign component.
Some of the speakers at
the event included Shaleen
Title, Massachusetts
Commissioner of Cannabis
Control, and Bradley Usher,
Chief of Staff for Senator Liz
Krueger. Senator Krueger
introduce a bill to the state
State Senator James Sanders Jr., center, was joined by guest speakers, Shaleen Title, Massachusetts Commissioner of Cannabis Control,
and Bradley Usher, Chief of Staff for Senator Liz Krueger. Photos courtesy of the Offi ce of State Senator James Sanders Jr.
that would legalize, regulate
and tax marijuana under the
similar rules that are used to
regulate alcohol. Krueger’s
goal with this bill is to reverse
what she describes as “decades
of costly, counterproductive
policies that have produced
racially discriminatory
outcomes.” Assemblywoman
Crystal Peoples-Stokes has
introduced a companion bill
in the Assembly.
Key points in the bill,
also know as the Marijuana
Regulation and Taxation Act
(MRTA), include prohibiting
the sale of marijuana to
individuals under the age of
21, but makes 18 the minimum
age for marijuana possession
and consumption. The bill
also allows cultivation of up
to six marijuana plants, gives
the State Liquor Authority to
grant licenses for marijuana
production, transport and
retail sales and removes
penalties for possession of 2
ounces of marijuana or less.
As the head of the Cannabis
Control Commission of
the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, a state where
both recreational and medical
marijuana is legal, Title
aims to develop and enforce
regulations in the cannabis
industry to achieve equity
and make sure that those
who were impacted by the
war on drugs are prioritized
in terms of benefiting from
the industry.
“We are trying to cross a
bridge that we are building
at the same time in a way that
is honest and just,” Title said.
“We strive to be transparent
and honest.”
Sanders is encouraging the
public to weigh in the debate
by using #NYTALKSPOT on
social media.
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