ALBANY, New York: After years of false starts, New York State lawmakers said Wednesday they had reached an agreement to legalize the sale of marijuana for recreational use by adults from the next year.
State Sen. Liz Krueger said lawmakers were finalizing a bill that would create a new state regulator for cannabis products and decriminalize the possession of up to three ounces of marijuana. New Yorkers will be allowed to grow marijuana for personal use and the state will study a new system to determine if drivers are intoxicated due to marijuana use, he said.
The bill is scheduled to be passed next week by the state Assembly and Senate, according to lawmakers. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed legalizing marijuana in state budgets that will have to be delivered next week. He included the legalization of marijuana in his budget proposals in 2019 and 2020, but withdrew after disagreements with Democrats who dominate the state Assembly and Senate.
During an unrelated briefing on Wednesday, Mr Cuomo said: “We are close, but we have already been close three times.” Spokesmen for the governor did not immediately respond to specific questions about the bill.
Mrs. Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat who sponsors the measure, said the final legislation has evolved following contributions from industry agents across the country.