Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, which would legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana in New York State.

By Council Members Levin, Brannan, Levine, Espinal, Torres, Cornegy, Ampry-Samuel, Reynoso, Cumbo, Richards, Lander, Kallos, Rivera and Ayala

Whereas, According to a report released in June of 2013 by the American Civil Liberties Union, “marijuana arrests have increased between 2001 and 2010 and now account for 52 percent of all drug arrests in the United States and marijuana possession arrests account for 46 percent of all drug arrests”; and

Whereas States across the country spent over $3.6 billion enforcing marihuana or “marijuana” possession laws in 2010; and

Whereas, In 2016, the New York City Police Department made 18,136 marijuana related arrests; and

Whereas, Enforcement of New York State marijuana laws have disproportionately affected African-American and Latino communities; and

Whereas, Recently, the states of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, California, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and Michigan, as well as Washington, D.C., have legalized the recreational use of marijuana; and

Whereas, Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in New York State would help generate millions of dollars annually in tax revenue; and

Whereas, A.3506-C, introduced by New York State Assembly Member Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes and pending in the New York State Assembly, and companion bill S.3040-C, introduced by New York State Senator Liz Krueger and pending in the New York State Senate, seek to legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana in New York State; and

Whereas, A.3506-C/S.3040-C is also known as the “Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act”; and

Whereas, The Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act would amend several statutes pertaining to the sale, enforcement, and taxation of marijuana including, but not limited to: (i) removing penalties for possession of certain amounts of marijuana; (ii) establishing 21 as the minimum legal age for marijuana possession and consumption; (iii) allowing for home cultivation of up to 6 marijuana plants; (iv) empowering the New York State Liquor Authority to grant licenses for marijuana production, transport, and retail sale; (v) prohibiting the sale of marijuana to individuals under 21 years-of-age; (vi) establishing a tax of marijuana and authorizing localities to charge a sales tax on retail sales; and (vii) directing a portion of the state tax revenue collected to be directed to re-entry programs, substance abuse programs, and job training programs in low-income, high-unemployment communities; and

Whereas, The Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act would help generate much needed state tax revenue, help to greatly reduce the racially disparate marijuana related arrests, and providing funding for community programs to better assist New York State residents; now therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to pass the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act and the Governor to sign such legislation into law, which would legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of marijuana in New York State.

WJH

LS 4813/ Res. No. 11-2014

2/26/19

LS 769