A report to Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York from the New York Department of Health shows that the department is backing marijuana legalization in the state.
The 75-page report has found that there are more pros than cons for the legalization.
It reads, “Numerous [New York state] agencies and subject matter experts in the fields of public health, mental health, substance use, public safety, transportation, and economics worked in developing this assessment. No insurmountable obstacles to regulation of marijuana were raised.”
The report also included these conclusions:
Criminalization “has not curbed marijuana use despite the commitment of significant law enforcement resources.”
Legalization would let the state “better control licensing, ensure quality control and consumer protection, and set age and quantity restrictions.”
The report finds that legalization would provide tax revenue to the state, estimated at $248.1 million to $677.7 million in the first year. The extra money could help support various state programs, from education to health care.
Governor Cuomo had announced the study back in January.
