Gov. Cuomo Takes Recreational Marijuana Bill off Budget

So you thought that Gov. Andrew Cuomo was going to make it so there could be recreational marijuana (legally) in New York State? Well, he tried. On March 19, 2019 the Governor removed that proposal from the 2019 budget.

Cuomo had gone on the record saying that New York desperately needed the potential $300 million in expected revenue over the first 3 years of legalized sales that would have come from the tax on recreational marijuana purchases to help balance the budget across the state. (NY currently is $3 billion in debt).

Is there even the slightest chance that New York will make this legal this year? Not before the budget needs to be passed, which is April 1, 2019. However, there is a small chance that the bill could get worked into the current legislative session, but that would need to be done and finalized by June 19, 2019. If you want recreational marijuana to be legal in New York, you need to contact your local lawmakers and voice your opinions, same if you do not want it to happen.

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