© REUTERS
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Source: BELGIAN
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After years of discussions, Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York lawmakers have reached an agreement to legalize cannabis. The legislation in question could already receive the green light in the parliament in Albany in the coming days.
“The legalization of cannabis in New York will focus on justice, investment in communities, economic opportunities for historically disadvantaged people, research, education and public safety,” Democratic majority leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced the deal.
The proponents of cannabis legalization in New York cite the fight against racism as the driving force. Because while consumption is evenly distributed across the state’s populations, black New Yorkers are relatively more likely to be penalized for cannabis offenses. The proceeds of the legalization can also be invested in poorer communities. The state expects about $350 million in additional tax revenues annually.
If the light goes green in Albany in the coming days, New York will become the 15th state in the United States where the consumption of cannabis for recreational purposes is legal.”
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