Hochul says Cannabis rollout was a 'disaster' but fixing it is unlikely
Hochul says cannabis rollout was a 'disaster' but fixing it is unlikely.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has made no secret of her unhappiness with New York State’s rollout of the legalization of cannabis.
And that unhappiness is growing.
“It’s a disaster,” the governor told The Buffalo News editorial board last week. “I will not defend that for one second.”
Hochul, who inherited New York’s marijuana legalization act when she became governor in August 2021, has no issue with the policy itself. “I'm glad we stopped the mass incarceration of young people for consumption,” she said. “It’s the right policy.”
But nearly three years after the law was passed and signed in March 2021, she said she has deep concerns about the implementation.
In a lengthy and detailed response to a question from The News’ editorial board, Hochul – who typically maintains an even tone when discussing policy – slapped her hand on the table when calling the rollout a “disaster,” and added, “You have to go back to the very beginning. Prior to my time (as governor), the legislation was crafted in a way that was not poised for success.”
