NEW YORK – The state of New York on Tuesday took an important step towards the spread of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes with the first meeting of the Board for the Control of Cannabis, which must develop the law that regulates this drug, and that it was approved on March 31st.
“The law for the regulation and taxation of marijuana is exceptional legislation, which aims to create a new industry that is diverse and inclusive and that is aware of the damages caused by the war on drugs and the prohibition of cannabis. The concept restorative justice and equity are the backbone of this legislation, “Board Director Tremaine Wright said today.
During the first meeting of this seven-member body, Wright stressed that regulating the use of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes will generate “significant income” and will bring about “substantial investments in the communities and individuals that have suffered the most from the penalty. of cannabis “.
New York became the fifteenth state in the country to legalize this substance for people over 21 years of age, whose consumption is also allowed in the District of Columbia and whose regularization, according to its defenders, could generate in this state 350 million dollars in annual taxes and between 30,000 and 60,000 jobs.
The development of the law also aims to repair the damages suffered by the communities most affected by the fight against the use of marijuana, especially the black and Latino communities.
In fact, one of the measures approved during today’s meeting was the appointment of a director of Equity, Jason Starr, whose role will be to “identify and interact with the communities that have been affected by the prohibition and criminalization of cannabis and link them to educational resources and technical assistance to provide opportunities in the regulated cannabis industry, “Wright said.
During the meeting, the Executive Director of the Board, Chris Alexander, assured that in New York there are 151,000 registered patients who use cannabis for therapeutic purposes and about 3,400 health workers who are recognized to manipulate this drug.
The law governing cannabis stipulates that the possession of up to 85 grams of marijuana and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis is legal and allows individuals to grow up to three marijuana plants in their residence.
It also establishes that marijuana dispensaries must be more than 152 meters from a school center and more than 61 meters from a religious temple.
The Board will be in charge of developing the norm, establishing the criteria and rates for obtaining permits for the sale, distribution and cultivation of marijuana, and monitoring the new sector once it is launched.
In addition, he stressed that he will launch an informative campaign to inform New Yorkers of the consequences and repercussions of the new regulations, whose implementation date is still unknown.
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