“Despite a final vote in the Assembly of 94 to 56, indicating strong bipartisan opposition, the governor has signed the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, making New York State the 16^th state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana.

“Momentum has been building for this proposal since it was first introduced in 2013 and with the Majority in control of both houses, it was only a matter of time that it would be taken up for a vote. I was pleased that we were able to debate the highly controversial legislation on its own merits, rather than it being included in the convoluted budget process as had been proposed in recent years.

“This legislation was highlighted as a historical step in correcting wrongs done to minority communities who have been disproportionately charged and prosecuted, and while I am sympathetic to this argument and supported legislation in 2019 that decriminalized relatively small amounts of cannabis on an individual, I believe that expanding the possession amounts to 3 ounces when in travel and up to 5 pounds in their home is incredibly unnecessary. Particularly since there will be no potency cap on the marijuana being sold.

“One of my primary concerns with the legalization of recreational marijuana is the impact it will have in relation to impaired driving and community safety – and I believe it is the responsibility of the state to act in a way that protects society as a whole. Unfortunately, with the passage of this law, we put that safety at risk. As we have seen in other states, there is no “breathalyzer” equivalent for DWAI due to marijuana usage, and without that tool it will be very difficult for law enforcement to appropriately charge individuals who choose to drive while impaired.

“As a strong supporter of the state’s medical cannabis program, I am also concerned that without several patient protections in place, the needs of approximately 143,000 medical marijuana patients are going to be largely forgotten.”