Statement on Governor Andrew Cuomo's Inclusion of Cannabis Legalization in the 2020 State of the State Address

2020 is a critical year for every facet of cannabis in New York. We are excited Governor Cuomo has again laid down an important marker in his State of the State, highlighting the need to legalize adult-use marijuana and expand our medical program. We share his commitment to increasing access and lowering costs for patients. If medical marijuana is going to continue to grow, we must remove as many barriers to entry as possible for every potential patient seeking relief.

We’re well past the point of considering adult use legalization an experiment. Significant states have already made legalization a reality. We’ve seen tax-revenue increase and public safety has been protected. We’ve seen how social justice and economic opportunity for all can be achieved when all stakeholders participate in the conversation. We look forward to continuing our partnership with longtime legislative champions in Albany and continuing to recruit new allies to the effort.