Senator Michelle Hinchey on the Deal Reached by State Lawmakers to Legalize Cannabis in New York

ALBANY, NY – State Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD-46) issued the following statement today after Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger and Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced that a three-way agreement between the State Senate, Assembly, and the Governor has been reached to legalize, tax, and regulate cannabis for adult-use in New York under bill S.854-A/A.1248-A, an amended version of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA). The bill, which is expected to be voted on next week, would make New York the 15th state to legalize adult-use cannabis.

“This weekend, our state took a monumental step towards legalizing adult-use cannabis in New York,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey who chairs the Agriculture Committee. “The deal reached will deliver unprecedented opportunity to establish a cannabis industry that brings economic growth to our small farmers and minority-owned businesses, social justice for people who have disproportionately endured the inequities of the war on drugs for generations, and vital community-based tax revenue streams.”

“This bill is the culmination of years of advocacy and dedicated work by Senator Liz Krueger, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, and a wide range of advocates to create the most diverse and inclusive adult-use cannabis industry in the country with the necessary safeguards to ensure that a legalized market can be implemented safely and responsibly. I’m proud to co-sponsor this nation-leading legislation and to have worked with the authors to ensure that our agriculture community is best represented. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation on the floor next week.”

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