In response to Governor Cuomo’s announcement that New York State will prioritize marijuana legalization this year, The Legal Aid Society called on Albany to enact the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, as reported by the Staten Island Advance.

This legislation addresses the negative impacts of the failed policy of marijuana prohibition by creating a responsible and well-regulated industry that will better restrict minors’ access to marijuana while generating millions in tax revenue to bolster the state economy and support communities that have been most harmed by marijuana prohibition.

“While we welcome the governor’s enthusiasm for marijuana legalization, he must call on the Legislature to pass the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act — the only path to legalization that centers Black and Latinx communities — communities who have been devastated by the war on drugs and ravaged by COVID-19,” reads a statement from The Legal Aid Society.