New York wants to legalize cannabis by April

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s chief advisor said that cannabis legalization would be reintroduced in the state budget next January, with the goal of enacting the reform by April 2021. He also provided an overview of the state’s regulations for products CBD hemp-derived products, including the authorization of infused beverages and food products.

In a recent episode of «Under The Canopy,» a show produced by Canopy Growth, associate attorney Axel Bernabe explained how efforts to legalize cannabis in states neighboring New York underscore the need for reform. He also stated that the way New York regulates cannabis will serve as a «model» for other states, prioritizing social equity and economic development.

Referring to New Jersey, a neighboring state who will vote on legalization next November, Axel Bernabe explains that he is keeping a «close eye on New Jersey. We’ve always been convinced that we’d get there before New Jersey, so even if they pass the referendum, they still need to reach an agreement between the governor and the Senate there.» «We’re working on it. We’re going to reintroduce [legalization] in our budget in January. We think we can get it done by April 1.»

In this episode of #UnderTheCanopy We speak with Axel Bernabe of @NYGovCuomo's office, which answered our questions about New York’s upcoming #hemp regulations, #cannabis #legalization, and the governor’s response to the pandemic. Watch here: https://t.co/5SzWFMnFSU

— Canopy Growth (@CanopyGrowth) October 14, 2020

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In New York, Andrew Cuomo included legalization in his budget proposal in 2018 and in 2019, but the negotiations never managed to overcome disagreements such as the distribution of cannabis tax revenue.

Also in the interview, Axel Bernabe discussed future regulations for hemp-derived cannabinoids, particularly CBD.

«We view this in terms of consumer protection. These products already exist. It makes no sense to try to pretend they don’t,» he said, adding that they plan to set a maximum dose of 25 milligrams of CBD per serving.

«We’re really looking at every product category and trying to strike a balance between consumer protection and ensuring that people have access to products they clearly use extensively for their health and well-being,» said Alex Bernabe.