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 address the opioid crisis, this harmful legislation is counterintuitive. Especially now. – Extract from a letter from the PA to the participants
The group has sent similar messages in the past, when the number of cannabis users among New York’s adult population had increased. In the email, the PTA asks its members to join leading medical and public health organizations, educational groups and law enforcement agencies to fight the legislation.
The call to action comes as New York’s majority leader Crystal-Nation-Stokes, who has previously introduced cannabis legalization bills, 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 noteworthy given the major differences between the legislature’s legalization plan and that of Governor Andrew Cuomo (D).
Forbes reports that 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 will be disproportionately applied to people of color, Eli Northrup, a political consultant for The Bronx Defenders, told Forbes.
