[Source: NORML]
A new poll finds 88 percent of New York voters support
the legalization of marijuana for medical use, and 57 percent also
favor legalizing recreational use.
The Quinnipiac University poll released Monday finds only 9 percent
oppose legalizing medical marijuana.
Maurice Carroll, director of the poll, says a narrow majority doubt
that legalizing marijuana will lead to harder drug use, and about half
say marijuana is no worse than alcohol.
The poll surveyed 1,488 New York voters by phone on Feb. 6-10 and has
a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he'll launch a limited hospital-based
medical marijuana program. state Sen. Liz Krueger has introduced a
full legalization bill, which the Cuomo administration opposes.
Complete article here: Support for MMJ in NY
[Source: NORML]
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo reaffirmed his commitment to
decriminalize the public possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana
during his 2013 State of the State address. Governor Cuomo had
previously announced his support for a similar legislative proposal in
2012, but state lawmakers failed to act on it.
Under state law,
the private possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is a
non-criminal civil citation, punishable by a $100 fine. By contrast,
the possession of any amount of cannabis in public view is classified
as a criminal misdemeanor [NY State Penal Law 221.10].
In 2011, New York City law enforcement spent $75 million arresting approximately 50,000 minor marijuana offenders
under Penal Law 221.10. Many of these offenders had marijuana on their
person, and only revealed the cannabis publicly after being ordered by
police to empty their pockets during 'stop-and-frisk' searches. According to the Governor's office, 94 percent of arrests for small amounts of marijuana in the state are in New York City. Over 85 percent of those charged were either African American or Latino.
The public supports this reform measure, recent polling
from Sienna College found that 63% of New York State residents
supported decriminalizing the possession of 15 grams or less of
marijuana in public view to a fine only violation.
Equalizing cannabis penalties will save taxpayer dollars, protect
citizens against illegal searches, and reduce unwarranted racial
disparities in arrests.
NORML will continue to update you in the coming weeks as this proposal moves forward.
