How close was New York towards realizing cannabis. Fairly close actually, they just ran out of time.
Manhattan Democrat Sen. Liz Krueger who sponsored the bill, confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that the legislation will not pass this year. The New York State Assembly’s legislative session began in January and was scheduled to end on Wednesday.
“It is clear now that MRTA is not going to pass this session. We came very close to crossing the finish line, but we ran out of time,” Krueger said, referring to the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.
Krueger said that while the bill failed to pass this session, it is “only a delay.” Progressive lawmakers will continue the push for legalization next year, she said.
But, Krueger added, “that delay means countless more New Yorkers will have their lives upended by unnecessary and racially disparate enforcement measures before we inevitably legalize.”