Legalizing Marijuana In New York: Forum Set In Westchester

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — A second site in the Hudson Valley has been added to the series of listening sessions of legalizing and regulating marijuana in New York. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Friday that a session has been added in Westchester County, as well as one in Suffolk County, due to community interest.

An unscientific poll run by Patch across the Hudson Valley and Long Island this spring found overwhelming support for legalizing pot.

This is the next step by state officials after receiving the Assessment of the Potential Impact of Regulated Marijuana in New York State in July, which found that the positive impacts of a regulated market in New York outweigh the potential negative impacts.

The session in Westchester will be Oct. 17 at the Radisson New Rochelle - One Radisson Plaza, New Rochelle, NY 10801 - Social Room - Register

The other Hudson Valley session, in Newburgh, is Monday at the SUNY Orange Newburgh Campus - One Washington Center, Newburgh, NY, 12550 - Kaplan Hall Center, Great Room 101 - Register

All sessions will be from 6-8 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The sessions are open to the public, and to accommodate all those planning to attend, pre-registration is encouraged.

"As we begin the process of creating a model regulated marijuana program, it is critical that we reach communities across the state in order to hear what New Yorkers have to say," Cuomo said in the announcement. "By adding two additional listening sessions to our schedule, we can ensure that all New Yorkers who wish to have their voice heard have the opportunity to do so."

In all now, 17 listening sessions are being conducted across New York State in the following locations: Albany, Glens Falls, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island (one in Nassau County and one in Suffolk County), Westchester County, Newburgh, Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Watertown.

The sessions began on Sept. 5 and will be completed by mid-October. Listening sessions are held in the evening and open to the public. Pre-registration is encouraged to accommodate all those planning to attend.

The dates and locations for the upcoming sessions are:

Monday, September 24 - Queens
Tuesday, September 25 - Brooklyn
Wednesday, September 26 - Staten Island
Thursday, September 27 - Long Island (Nassau County)
Monday, October 1 - Newburgh
Tuesday, October 2 - Binghamton
Wednesday, October 3 - Buffalo
Thursday, October 4 - Rochester
Tuesday, October 9 - Syracuse
Wednesday, October 10 - Utica
Thursday, October 11 - Watertown
Tuesday, October 16 - Long Island (Suffolk County)
Wednesday, October 17 - Westchester County

Specific details about venues for all upcoming listening sessions are now available here.

Background: In January, Cuomo commissioned a multi-agency study, led by the Department of Health, to assess the impact of a regulated marijuana program in New York State.

The result was Assessment of the Potential Impact of Regulated Marijuana in New York State. It concluded that areas that may be a cause for concern can be mitigated with regulation and proper use of public education that is tailored to address key populations.

After reviewing the study, the governor announced the creation of a Regulated Marijuana Workgroup to provide advice to the State on legislative and regulatory approaches needed to protect public health, provide consumer protection, ensure public safety, address social justice issues and capture and invest tax revenue.

That group, which includes subject matter experts from throughout the State and government representatives of public health, mental health, substance use, taxation and finance, law enforcement and public safety, will review feedback received at the listening sessions.

Make sure you take our poll, too:

Legalizing Pot Could Bring Millions In Tax Revenue To NY [POLL]

Image via Shutterstock

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