On Thursday, the office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced a series of 15 listening sessions on regulated cannabis to be held across the state.
The meetings’ purpose: to hear input from community members and stakeholders on the details of cannabis legalization in New York state. Input received will be used by the state-commissioned Regulated Marijuana Workgroup as it drafts legislation for adult-use cannabis legalization to be considered by the state legislature.
“Community input is critical as we work to draft balanced and comprehensive legislation on a regulated marijuana program in New York. The multi-agency report identified the benefits of a regulated marijuana market, and with these listening sessions we are taking another important step to develop a model program for New York. We look forward to hearing what New Yorkers in every corner of the state have to say.” – Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in a press release
The public listening sessions, to be held in the evenings, will begin in early September and carry through mid-October. Pre-registration is encouraged. Dates and locations as published on the website of the governor’s office are:
- Wednesday, September 5 – Albany
- Thursday, September 6 – Glens Falls
- Monday, September 17 – Bronx
- Thursday, September 20 – Manhattan
- Monday, September 24 – Queens
- Tuesday, September 25 – Brooklyn
- Wednesday, September 26 – Staten Island
- Thursday, September 27 – Long Island
- 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
Gov. Cuomo commissioned a study from the state Department of Health in January. In July, the Department of Health delivered the finalized study to the office of the Governor, concluding that a regulated adult-use market would be beneficial for New York.
Gov. Cuomo then created the Regulated Marijuana Workgroup to assist New York lawmakers in developing a bill with well-organized and effective terms for legalization.
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