NEW YORK — New York Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders were looking for ways to crack down on illicit marijuana shops threatening the state’s fledgling legal market for recreational marijuana as part of budget negotiations late.
Hochul, a Democrat, told reporters at the state Capitol on Tuesday that she hoped the budget negotiations would be concluded soon. She expired on April 1st.
“It has been a long process,” he said. “I see a path to increase the state budget, maybe later this week.”
Hundreds of unauthorized marijuana shops have opened in New York City, competing with legal dispensaries whose products are heavily taxed. Illicit shops and trucks have mushroomed even as New York slowly works to establish its legal market.
Hochul said he wants to give state tax officials and the Office of Cannabis Management enforcement tools to shut down or fine illegal pot shops, a proposal outlined in a bill he filed last month.
“We are trying very hard to deal with the illegal industry. This is not easy to do. But when you set these businesses up to fail because of illegal competition, we have to take some drastic measures now,” Hochul said.
Lawmakers missed a deadline to adopt a state budget in part because of disagreements over the governor’s proposals to change bail rules and her ambitious plan to spur 800,000 new homes across the state over the next ten years. It is common in New York for policy issues to be included in state budgets.
Hochul’s housing plan was ousted from the budget amid opposition from suburban lawmakers concerned about local zoning mandates. Hochul said he will push some of the elements of his plan this legislative session after the budget is approved.
Hochul’s proposed budget includes a change to current bail law to give judges more discretion by removing the “least restrictive means” standard to ensure the defendant returns to court. Hochul describes it as a clarification of the guidelines, but liberal lawmakers have resisted making any further changes to the state’s bail bond law.
Hochul declined to comment on whether a bail deal had been reached, but said she is “satisfied with where we are today.”
Michael Hill in Albany, New York contributed to this report.
Maysoon Khan is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative corps. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on covert issues. Follow Maysoon Khan on Twitter.
2023-04-26 03:27:45
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