LIU: REGULATING MARIJUANA IS GOOD FOR NYC
NEW YORK, N.Y. – City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following about reports that a bill will soon be introduced in the State Legislature seeking to legalize recreational marijuana:
"This much is clear: New York City's misguided war on marijuana has failed. It is costly and counterproductive, and its uneven enforcement has ruined too many lives – especially in minority communities. State Sen. Liz Krueger's bill to regulate marijuana is exactly the type of sound policy our State and City need. It would offer relief to patients suffering from myriad medical conditions, prevent thousands of young people from being needlessly dragged through the criminal justice system, and boost our bottom line. We estimate that regulating and taxing marijuana could raise more than $400 million annually in the City, which could be used to cut CUNY tuition in half. Let's send kids to college instead of to jail."
Background:
Comptroller Liu in August proposed regulating and taxing the sale of marijuana for personal use by adults in New York City, estimating it could generate more than $400 million annually for higher education.
For more on the report "Regulating and Taxing Marijuana": http://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/liu-legalize-marijuana-in-new-york-city/
Comptroller Liu has also proposed making New York City a global leader in medical marijuana research since more than 100,000 New York City residents would benefit from the drug's medicinal use, according to analysis by the Comptroller's office.
For more on the report "100,000 Reasons: Medical Marijuana in the Big Apple": https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/medical-marijuana-would-aid-100000-in-nyc/