Why Hasn't New York Legalized Marijuana Yet?

The recreational marijuana business could bring $2 billion to the New York economy and raise $350 million in taxes.

By FELIX GAO and WILLIAM UMBRIA

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Almost half the nation has done it, two-thirds of adults support it, and there are medical and economic benefits, so why hasn’t New York legalized marijuana yet?

After years of advocates trying to legalize weed for recreational use, 2021 should be the year. Cannabis is a booming industry that could bring in over $300 million a year in tax revenue and billions of dollars in economic activity, which, following the Covid-19 pandemic, New York really needs.

First, let’s look at health.

Studies have shown that marijuana can ease chronic pain, increase appetite for chemotherapy patients, and alleviate the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. CBD, or cannabidiol, a derivative of marijuana, has been approved to treat epilepsy. If the drug were legal, people would have access to organic marijuana instead of synthetic substitutes like K2, which have deadly consequences.

On a personal level, one of our grandmothers suffered from chronic pain, exhausted all of her means through legal channels, and requested marijuana as an alternative. This request was denied. Rationality would suggest that an 89-year old woman seeking relief from pain should be granted all forms of medication, including herbal remedies.

The economic benefits are also clear. In 2019, New York earned $2 billion in tobacco sales and taxes. This year, Governor Cuomo estimated that the legalization of marijuana could create 60,000 jobs and generate $3 billion in business revenue and $350 million in taxes. In light of New York’s $15 billion budget deficit due to the Covid crisis, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, legalization looks like an obvious move. New York farmers could also grow cannabis for a profit while simultaneously reducing drug trafficking and synthetic products.

Midwood junior Elian Garcia agrees that marijuana should be legalized “but should be strictly monitored.”

“Twenty-one should be the legal age,” Garcia said, “because an adult's mind is pretty much developed at this point, so they’ll have an easier time not succumbing to the temptation of doing harder drugs.”

Marijuana wasn’t always illegal. The history of our current laws have more to do with xenophobia than health concerns.

Marijuana first gained popularity in the United States around 1910. At this time, many Mexicans migrated to the United States, and some brought the tradition of smoking marijuana. Originally known as cannabis in the States, opponents quickly began using the Spanish term instead to promote the idea that the substance was of foreign origin. This led to claims of marijuana being a dangerous substance. In 1937, Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which essentially banned cannabis in every state, including New York.

This history connects to the modern day. People of color are more likely to be arrested and convicted for marijuana possession. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “a Black person is 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white person, even though Blacks and whites use marijuana at similar rates.” There is a simple solution to this inequality: legalize marijuana.

All that policing is expensive too. The ACLU reported that over $3.6 billion is used to enforce laws against the possession of marijuana. Not only is this a waste of money, it is a waste of time. These “criminals” are not a danger to the community.

“Of the 30,000 New Yorkers with no prior convictions when they were arrested for marijuana possession, 90 percent had no subsequent felony convictions,” the ACLU stated. The time used by these police officers searching for marijuana users could be better used protecting people from actually dangerous criminals, and the money wasted could go towards improving the New York Police Department.

Of course, there are some risks to legalization. Some studies suggest that marijuana users have an increased chance of getting respiratory diseases and psychosis. Marijuana has also been shown to lead to harder drug abuse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “about 1 in 10 marijuana users will become addicted. For people who begin using before the age of 18, that number rises to 1 in 6.” The CDC also reports that marijuana users are “three times more likely to become addicted to heroin.”

Anna Chapko ‘22 is opposed to legalization for these reasons. “Marijuana is a very strong drug to legalize,” she said. “A lot of people could abuse it.” If it were legalized, she would put the age limit at 21.

These concerns are important. However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, ‘harder’ substances.” Those who do present a small group. And there are other factors involved that cause people to use other substances, like the people they are around, mental illnesses, and family history.

According to the CDC, alcohol and tobacco are more lethal than marijuana, even though they are legal. Alcohol poisoning kills six people every day in the U.S. and tobacco causes 20 percent of all cancers, while there have been no recorded deaths from marijuana overdoses.

Garcia said, “I think marijuana can be used safely. The way the media has portrayed it is inaccurate. They only discuss the times a person makes a mistake while using it.”

Before his recent scandals, Governor Cuomo had promised that legalization was coming by the end of 2021. Whatever your personal biases may be in this debate, it seems the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.