In response to the New York legislature’s consideration of legalizing cannabis for adult use, the New York PTA is fighting back, according to a report by Spectrum News. In an email to the association’s members, she expressed concern about young people’s access to cannabis and its effects on the lungs.
In the midst of a major crisis surrounding vaping and youth smoking, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the lungs as we continue to fight the opioid crisis, this harmful legislation is counterintuitive. Especially now. – Extract from the PA letter to participants
The group has sent similar messages in the past as the number of cannabis users among New York’s adult population increased. In an email, the PTA asks its members to join leading medical and community organizations, educational groups and law enforcement agencies to fight the legislation.
The call to action comes from New York State Majority Leader Crystal Nation-Stokes, who has previously introduced bills to legalize cannabis and believes that the legalization of cannabis for adult use will come to fruition this legislative session in New York. I’m actually more confident than I have been in the past, Buffalo’s People-Stokes told WKBW.
Their optimism is remarkable given the significant differences between the legislature’s legalization plan and Governor Andrew Cuomo’s (D) plan.
According to Forbes, both sides have the same end goal of legalizing cannabis for adults, but have different ideas on how to achieve that goal. Activists say the plans do not go far enough in terms of social equality and justice.
Although there are criminal penalties for marijuana, these laws are not consistently enforced. They would disproportionately apply to people of color, Eli Northrop, a political consultant for The Bronx Defenders, told Forbes.
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Author:
Lucas Barfield
Lucas is a freelance writer and medical cannabis activist living in Tacoma. When he’s not writing about cannabis or advocating for a better medical cannabis system in Washington State, he likes to get out there, play adaptive sports and volunteer in his community in Tacoma. He advocates national legalization and opening the medicinal cannabis market in all 50 states.
