>> RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN NEW YORK STATE IT'S NOW LEGAL BUT WILL THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE POTENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY COSTS?

AND HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MOST IMPACTED BY TREATING MARIJUANA USE AS A CRIME?

WE'LL TAKE UP THOSE QUESTIONS NEXT ON CONNECT NEW YORK.

[♪♪♪] >> WELCOME TO CONNECT NEW YORK.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

EARLIER THIS SPRING NEW YORK JOINED THE GROWING NUMBER OF STATES LEGALIZING THE RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA BY ADULTS.

GOVERNOR CUOMO PROMISES THE LAW WILL CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN TAX REVENUE AND EXPUNGE THE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OF PEOPLE JAILED FOR SOMETHING NO LONGER CONSIDERED A CRIME.

WILL THE BENEFITS OF THE LAW OUTWEIGH THE COSTS IN TERMS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY?

HOW WILL IT IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR WHERE DRUG ARRESTS SENT THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN TO PRISON.

WILL THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY PUSH FOR MORE PEOPLE TO USE ITS PRODUCTS?

WE'LL CONSIDER THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE WITH OUR GUESTS, MELISSA MOORE THE NEW YORK STATE DIRECTOR FOR THE DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE.

KEVIN SABAT THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF SMART APPROACHES TO MARIJUANA.

LAURA SCHULTZ, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT IN ALBANY.

AND ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF, ROBERT MACIOL.

MELISSA, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN WITH YOU.

GOVERNOR CUOMO SIGNED THE BILL FOR MARIJUANA USE CAN YOU GIVE US THE LAY OF THE LAND WHAT ARE THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE BILL?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME IN HOSTING THIS CONVERSATION.

SO THE MAIN TOPICS OF THE LEGALIZATION BILL THAT PASSED THROUGH THIS YEAR AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR WAS ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE REFORM FOR CANNABIS IN NEW YORK STATE.

IT BRINGS THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM THAT ALREADY EXISTED AND THE INDUSTRIAL HEMP CDB FARMING PROGRAM AND ADULT USE CANNABIS UNDER THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT.

AND PRO-ACTIVELY SETS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT IN TERMS OF THE PRIOR HARMS OF PROHIBITION ON COMMUNITIES LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF ARRESTS THAT HAVE BEEN BOURNE BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NOT BECAUSE THERE'S MORE USE BUT BECAUSE OF TARGETED ENFORCEMENT IN THOSE COMMUNITIES PROVIDES RESTITUTION AND REPAIR FOR THOSE HARMS AND SETS FORTH THE TAX REVENUE THAT WILL BE COMING INTO THE STATE FROM LEGALIZATION WILL BE DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST IMPACTED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK STATE THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY UNDERFUNDED AND NEED A BOOST.

AND THEN ALSO TO DRUG TREATMENT AND EDUCATION EFFORTS AS WELL.

SO IT'S INTENDED TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE REFORM TO MOVE US PAST THIS ERA OF PROHIBITION THAT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE AND BRING US INTO A NEW SPACE OF MARIJUANA JUSTICE AND GROWING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE.

>> ASIDE FROM WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FUNDS AND ALL AND THE REGULATORY FEATURES THAT NEED TO BE SETUP, IN TERMS OF USE, THIS IS FOR ADULTLESS, RIGHT, NOT ANYBODY, AND BUT YOU CAN'T YET BUY IT LEGALLY, CAN YOU IN NEW YORK STATE?

THE SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTION AND ALL IS NOT YET SETUP?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AT THIS POINT, THE CRIMINAL PENAL CODE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED.

THAT WAS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST TASK OF THE BILL RECOGNIZING THE HARM DONE BEFORE NOT ONLY TO REMOVE THE CANNABIS OFFENSES THAT HAD BEEN WEAPONIZED AGAINST PEOPLE FOR SO LONG UNDER THE MARIJUANA ARREST CRUSADE ALSO TO ESTABLISH AUTOMATIC EXPUNGEMENT SO PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN THE TARGETS IN THE PAST WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THEIR LIVES AND NOT HAVE THAT BURDEN OF A CRIMINAL RECORD HANGING OVER THEM AND PROVIDING RELIEF WITH IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THAT REQUIRES A SEPARATE CHANNEL.

AND PROVIDING PROTECTIONS IN TERMS OF HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT AND SO MANY OTHER FACETS OF PEOPLE'S LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

ALL OF THAT TAKES PLACE IMMEDIATELY UPON THE BILL BEING SIGNED.

AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD THERE WILL BE A PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING THIS NEW OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT, THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD AND THOSE ENTITIES WILL BE IN CHARGE OF DEVELOPING THE REGULATIONS THAT SETUP WHAT THE CANNABIS ECONOMY WILL LOOK LIKE IN NEW YORK STATE.

THERE'S SIGNIFICANT GUARDRAILS WITHIN THE BILL.

AND DIRECTION AROUND THAT BUT THE NITTY-GRITTY OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS WHAT THAT RUBIC WILL BE ESTABLISHED MOVING FORWARD.

>> KEVIN YOUR ORGANIZATION IS OPPOSED TO LEGALIZATION BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS A ANOTHER NUANCED OPPOSITION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT YOUR OPPOSITION?

>> SURE.

LOOK, I THINK WE'RE CAUGHT IN A FALSE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN CRIMINALIZATION OR PROHIBITION ON THE ONE HAND AND LEGALIZATION LIKE THE LAW WE HAVE NOW JUST RECENTLY SIGNED IN NEW YORK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SENSIBLE POLICIES IN-BETWEEN.

YOU CAN REMOVE CRIMINAL PENALTIES I DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE GO TO PRISON FOR MARIJUANA OR HAVE AN ARREST RECORD BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DOING WHEN WE ARE LEGALIZING AND COMMERCIALIZING A SUBSTANCE THAT IS 10 TO 30 TIMES STRONGER THAN IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

THE NEW MARIJUANA TODAY DOES NOT RESEMBLE MARIJUANA THAT MOST NEW YORKERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH FROM THE PAST.

WE ARE TALKING CONCENTRATES THAT CAN BE 99% PURE.

THE FACT THAT THAT IS LEGAL UNDER THIS NEW LAW I THINK IT WILL SPARK A BACKLASH.

WE SAW YESTERDAY IN COLORADO IT TOOK A WHILE BUT WE SAW PARENTS AND OTHERS HELP PASS A BILL TO REIN IN THE INDUSTRY TO STUDY REMOVING PUTTING POTENCY LIMITS TO TIGHTEN UP THE SYSTEM.

BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS DRIVEN BY AN INDUSTRY THAT WANTS TO MAKE MONEY THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH THIS IS ABOUT AN INDUSTRY THAT WANTS TO PROFIT JUST LIKE TOBACCO.

AND I DON'T SEE US MAKING MONEY AS A STATE WHEN YOU COUNT THE COSTS.

LAST TIME I CHECKED GAMBLING AND ALCOHOL WERE NOT PAYING FOR A LOT OF THINGS IN NEW YORK STATE ESPECIALLY RELATIVE TO THE COSTS.

I THINK THIS IS MISGUIDED.

IT PASSED THIS YEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OBSERVING BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERSIES THE GOVERNOR HAD AND THEN BASICALLY LOST A LOT OF LEVERAGE WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND ACQUIESCED ON MANY THINGS.

THIS WAS STOPPED BY THE DEMOCRATS IN NEW YORK.

MANY LEGISLATORS IN ALBANY AND OTHERS REPRESENTING ALBANY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, ESPECIALLY UPSTATE AND LONG ISLAND STOPPED THIS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THIS IS BAD FOR KIDS.

BECAUSE OF SOME POLITICAL DYNAMICS IT WENT THROUGH.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT IT I'M WORRIED ABOUT SECOND HAND PUBLIC USE A LOT OF THINGS ARE ILLEGAL UNDER THIS LAW BUT IT MEANS IT STILL HAPPENS.

YOU CANNOT DRINK UNDER 21 BUT A LOT OF KIDS ARE DRINKING.

THIS IDEA THAT BECAUSE THE LAW DOESN'T SAY KIDS CAN USE IT THEY WON'T USE IT.

REALLY THAT'S A LINE THAT WILL BE BLURRY.

>> THERE'S QUITE A BIT IN THERE THAT YOU MEMBERRIONED.

I WILL -- MENTIONED.

I WILL WANT TO GET TO THE POINTS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PROGRAM, COMMERCIALIZATION AND THE POTENCY ASPECT.

SHERIFF ROBERT MACIOL FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE THIS IS GOING TO PRESENT A DIFFERENT SET OF CHALLENGES FOR YOU.

WHAT ARE YOUR OFFICERS SAYING?

ARE THEY CONCERNED?

ARE YOU CONCERNED WITH ANY ASPECTS OF THE LAW?

>> SURE.

OBVIOUSLY I SPEAK ON BEHALF NOT ONLY AS THE SHERIFF OF ONEIDA COUNTY BUT THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION WE HAVE OPPOSED THIS OUT OF THE GATE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THIS YEAR IT CHANGED.

PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST SINGLE IMPORTANT THINGS TO US WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCEMENT IS THE FACT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE NO TECHNOLOGY IN THIS COUNTRY TO MEASURE A PERSON'S LEVEL OF THC ON THE ROADSIDE.

AGAIN, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT NOT ONLY DON'T WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS THE DRE'S THE CERTIFIED TRAINED SPECIALIZED POLICE OFFICERS DEPUTIES OR TROOPERS WHO ARE TRAINED TO DO FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS ON THE ROADSIDE TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY BE IMPAIRED BY A DRUG.

AND AGAIN, TO LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF THEM -- RIGHT NOW I HAVE THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN OUR COUNTY.

AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO DRE'S.

MY AGENCY ALONE WE WILL BE IN NEED OF HALF A DOZEN MORE OF THEM NOT TO MENTION THE 13 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT OPERATE 24 HOURS A DAY IN ONEIDA COUNTY.

DRE TRAIN SOMETHING NOT SOMETHING OFFERED OFTEN.

IT'S IN THREE COMPONENTS, AND PARTS ONE AND TWO.

ONE OF THOSE PARTS IS ONLY OFFERED OUT OF STATE.

THERE'S NO FUNDING IN THIS BILL THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO GET MORE DRE'S.

THERE'S ONLY FUNDING FOR THE STATE POLICE THERE IS NONE FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THAT IS JUST ONE ISSUE.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES, FATALITIES FROM OTHER STATES, RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WE WANT TO LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S MISTAKES NOT REPEAT THEM.

AND YOU KNOW, HERE IN OUR STATE WE HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO CONTROL YOUTH WHEN IT COMES TO SMOKING, CONSUMING ALCOHOL, THE HEROIN EPIDEMIC WE HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL AND NOW WE'RED ACING ONE MORE THING.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> I WILL SWING BACK TO THE DRE POINT IS INTERESTING.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE LAURA SCHULTZ HANGING.

AS THE LAST PERSON TO GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK HERE.

LAURA FROM THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE WHEN HE SIGNED THE BILL GOVERNOR CUOMO TOUTED THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE STATE AS OTHER PROPONENTS HAVE DONE.

WHAT ARE THE PROJECTIONS IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND ARE THEY ACCURATE IN YOUR VIEW?

>> WELL, WE AREN'T REALLY GOING TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT UNTIL THE MARKET IS FULLY HERE.

THERE ARE A WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTIONS ON THE LOW-END, YOU SEE A $2 BILLION MARKET.

ON THE HIGHER END YOU ARE LOOKING AT $5.5 BILLION.

AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY PRETTY CLOSE TO IN THE MIDDLE OF THERE.

NEW YORK IS THE SECOND LARGEST STATE TO LEGALIZE ADULT USE CANNABIS.

SO IN CALIFORNIA THEY SOLD 4.4 BILLION IN CANNABIS.

SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $3 BILLION MARKET IN NEW YORK, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE UNREASONABLE ESTIMATION, THAT COULD SUPPORT 20,000 JOBS ACCORDING TO OUR ANALYSIS.

>> 20,000 JOBS.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR SAID 30-60, RIGHT?

>> NO, I'M SORRY.

20,000 BER BILLION THAT IS 60,000 JOBS.

>> 60,000 JOBS AND WHAT ABOUT THE JOBS THAT YOU CANNOT HIRE FOR BECAUSE YOUR ROOFER CANNOT PASS A DRUG TEST?

YOUR BUS DRIVER CANNOT PASS A DRUG TEST?

YOU DON'T WANT YOUR PILOT TO BE HIGH.

THESE NUMBERS I THINK IN CALIFORNIA, I MEAN LAURA CAN TELL US IN CALIFORNIA SOUNDS LIKE A BIG NUMBER BUT IT'S SOMETHING LIKE .1% OR LESS THAN THE OVERALL BUDGET AND IN NEW YORK THE PROJECTIONS WHEN YOU DID THE MATH THE FIRST YEAR WAS GOING TO BE .01%.

AND FOUR YEARS IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE .08.

IT'S PENNIES WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL NUMBERS.

>> YOU MENTIONED -- >> LET ME JUMP IN THERE A CLARIFICATION POINT.

A POSITIVE TEST FOR CANNABIS CAN NO LONGER BE USED AS A REASON TO DENY SOMEBODY EMPLOYMENT AND THAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> GOD HELP US IF THEY ARE DRIVING OUR KIDS ON THE BUS.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.

>> EXCUSE ME, ASIDE FROM IN CASES WHERE THERE IS A PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT TO IT IN WHICH CASE A BUS DRIVER IS ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS.

BUT IF SOMEBODY IS A CLERK AT A STORE, IF SOMEBODY IS WORKING IN OTHER POSITIONS THEY ARE OFF THE CLOCK LAWFUL USE SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR EMPLOYMENT STATUS IN THE SAME WAY WE SEE WITH ALCOHOL.

A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR VIEWERS TO KNOW THAT A CANNABIS DRUG TEST CAN NO LONGER BE USED TO DENY SOMEBODY EMPLOYMENT THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING ON THE JOB.

>> WE SHOULD BE CLEAR THERE, RIGHT, THAT THAT -- IF THEY ARE USING CANNABIS AT HOME, LET'S SAY.

BUT UNDER THE INFLUENCE AT WORK WHICH IS UP TO THE EMPLOYER TO SAY COME ON YOU ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

>> THE BILL ALLOWS FOR THAT.

IF SOMEBODY IS INTOXICATED ON THE JOB THAT YOU WOULD SEE WITH ALCOHOL THAT IS NOT ALLOWED.

CLEARLY.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER STATES IS THE WORKMEN'S COMP CLAIMS DECREASED AND A LOT OF OTHER POTENTIAL ON THE JOB INJURIES HAVE DECREASED FOLLOWING LEGALIZATION.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO ADD A POINT OF CLARIFICATION THERE AS WELL RESPECTFULLY.

AND SORT OF OBJECTIVE WAY WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE FACTS.

YOU KNOW, ONE ISSUE A SIDE ISSUE IS IN PLACE LIKE COLORADO FOR THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IS HIRING OUT OF STATE WORKERS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIND SOMEONE TO PASS A DRUG TEST.

THE MAIN POINT WE CANNOT COMPARE MARIJUANA TESTING TO ALCOHOL TESTING.

MELISSA AND I AGREE, MARIJUANA TEST SOMETHING MORE COMPLICATED.

BECAUSE ALCOHOL IS IN AND OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM WITHIN 24 HOURS.

IT'S WATER SOLUBLE.

THC IN MARIJUANA IS FAT SOLUBLE.

IT MEANS IT STICKS AROUND LONGER.

MELISSA IS RIGHT IN THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO DETECT IMPAIRMENTS.

IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU USED LAWFULLY SATURDAY MORNING AND THEN WENT TO WORK ON MONDAY, AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU USED A LOT, YOU WILL PROBABLY TEST POSITIVE ON MONDAY.

I THINK WE WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

THAT IS A POSSIBILITY NOT A VALUE JUDGMENT BUT THE DIFFICULTY OF THAT IS THAT ON YOUR EMPLOYER ON MONDAY, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT LET'S SAY YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE PERSON TESTS POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA AND SAYS I WASN'T USING ON MY BREAK 10 MINUTES AGO OR THIS MORNING.

I WAS USING TWO DAYS AGO LEGALLY.

SO THAT ISN'T WHY THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED BECAUSE WHATEVER ELSE THAT BECOMES A VERY DIFFICULT CONUNDRUM FOR EMPLOYERS TO PARS OUT BECAUSE THAT TECHNOLOGY IS NOT THERE.

WE ARE GETTING BETTER AT IT.

CORONERS CAN SEE ABOUT RECENT POSITIVES ON THE ROAD AFTER YOU USE MARIJUANA ALTHOUGH YOU WILL STILL HAVE IT IN YOUR SYSTEM FOR A FEW DAYS IT DOES RAPIDLY DECREASE AFTER 8 HOURS.

THERE IS SORT OF SOME WAYS TO LOOK AT RECENT USE BUT IT IS AN EVOLVING SCIENCE AND IT'S JUST DIFFICULT.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

>> SO SORT OF SUMMARIZE THAT POINT IF I MAY, SO THE RESIDUAL, THE THC MIGHT STILL BE IN YOUR SYSTEM BUT IT IS NOT HAVING AN EFFECT.

>> WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HAVING AN EFFECT.

MY POINT WE DON'T KNOW, MELISSA?

WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT IS OR NOT.

>> ALL OF THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BEYOND THE POINT AT WHICH SOMEBODY IS ACTIVELY USING AND IS FEELING THE EFFECTS FROM THAT CANNABIS -- >> NO THAT IS NOT TRUE.

>> THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE THEY ARE ABLE TO FUNCTION AS ANYBODY ELSE WOULD.

>> WE ARE ADVISED BY HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH AND I WISH MELISSA WAS RIGHT IT'S SHOWING YOU CAN HAVE THE EFFECTS OF INTOXICATION IF YOU ARE A PILOT OR A DRIVER AFTER THE TIME YOU MIGHT FEEL INTOXICATED.

IT'S INVOLVING SCIENCE.

>> PRESUMABLY AN AIRLINE OR A TRUCKING FIRM COULD JUST TELL THEIR EMPLOYEES YOU CAN'T DO IT WHETHER IT'S LEGAL OR NOT WE ARE FORBIDDING IT.

CAN THEY NOT DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> THERE IS A PROVISION FOR THAT IN THE BILL.

>> LET'S MOVE ON FROM THIS POINT IF WE MAY.

I WANTED TO ASK LAURA ABOUT WE STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THIS, AND I'M WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE OTHER STATES WHERE THEY'VE TRIED IT?

I KNOW THE PROJECTIONS FOR TAX REVENUE TURNOUT TO BE NOT QUITE AS ADVERTISED CERTAINLY WE CAN LOOK AT GAMBLING IN NEW YORK STATE AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND SO DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA FROM OTHER STATES WHETHER THEY'VE HAD THE REVENUES THAT THEY'VE ANTICIPATED AND ALSO ABOUT TAXES?

WHERE HOW IS THAT PAID UNDER THIS SYSTEM?

PAID BY PRODUCERS?

POINT AT THE POINT OF USE.

WHAT IS THE TAX SCHEME I'M ASKING?

>> SURE.

NO PROBLEM.

IN NEW YORK, WE'RE THE GOVERNOR ANTICIPATES $350 MILLION IN ABOUT STATE TAX REVENUE FROM MARIJUANA ONCE THE MARKET IS FULLY DEVELOPED AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE FIVE OR SIX YEARS TO START REALIZING THAT LEVEL OF REVENUE FOR THE STATE.

IN THE VERY FIRST YEAR, THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, IT'S LOOKING LIKE $20 MILLION IN REVENUE.

AND THAT IS GOING TO COME FROM THE LICENSING AND FEES AND NEW COMPANIES COME IN AND GET THE LICENSES TO START PRODUCING, CULTIVATING AND LOOKING TO OPEN UP DISPENRIES.

AND ONCE THAT SCALES UP WE MAY SEE 50 MILLION IN SALES AND EXCISE TAXES.

THERE WILL BE SALES TAXES OF 13% WHEN YOU -- WHEN CANNABIS IS PURCHASED IN A DISPENSARY.

9% GOES TO THE STATE AND 4% WILL GO TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

AND THEN IN ADDITION THERE'S GOING TO BE AN EXCISE TAX AT TIME OF PRODUCTION.

AND NEW YORK INTRODUCED SOMETHING THAT IS RELATIVELY NOVEL AND THAT EXCISE TAX IS BASED ON THE POTENCY OF THE PRODUCT THAT IS BEING PRODUCED.

ILLINOIS HAS SOME POTENCY-BASED TAX SCHEME BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE FAR MORE GRANULAR.

THE MORE POTENT THE CANNABIS PRODUCT IS THE HIGHER THE TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

>> HOW DO THEY -- HOW IS THAT DETERMINED?

>> CABBIES PRODUCTS ARE -- CANNABIS PRODUCTS WILL NEED TO BE TESTED AT THE TIME OF CULTIVATION AFTER THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING.

PROCESSING AND THOSE LAB RESULTS WILL INFORM.

>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, I THINK KEVIN SAID THAT THE THC LEVELS WE GET TODAY IS HIGHER THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.

>> IT'S NOT ONLY -- >> WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT, THE CONVERSATION AROUND POTENCY NEEDS TO BE GROUNDED IN RECOGNIZING THAT AS PEOPLE NOTE THEY ARE USING HIGHER POTENCY PRODUCT THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING TO CONSUME LIKE WITH ALCOHOL.

IF YOU SET OUT TO JUST HAVE A BEER WITH YOUR DINNER, A GLASS OF WINE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS OF THAT ARE.

OR SOMETHING LIGHTER, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT.

WITH YOUR MORE POTENT FORM OF ALCOHOL PEOPLE DON'T DRINK AN ENTIRE BOTTLE OF JACK DANIELS THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT A HELPFUL FORM OF CONSUMPTION AND THE SAME IS TRUE WITH CANNABIS.

THE TALKING POINTS AROUND INCREASED POTENCY AREN'T TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN USE MUCH BETTER INFORMATION THEY HAVE FROM THE LAB TESTING THAT LAURA WAS TALKING ABOUT IN ORDER TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT THEIR LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION OR DOSE WOULD BE AND UNDERSTAND IF THEY ARE USING A MORE POTENT PRODUCT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DOSE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS A LOWER POTENCY PRODUCT WOULD BE.

>> I WISH THAT WERE THE CASE WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCE WE HAVE.

I WISH PEOPLE WOULD USE LESS WITH HIGHER DOSAGES.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN STATES LIKE COLORADO THAT THE GENERAL VOLUME AND INTENSITY OF USE HAS DOUBLE OR TRIPLED WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POPULATION.

BOTH IN PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY.

IN OTHER WORDS MORE PEOPLE ARE USING MORE HEIGHTENED POTENCY CANNABIS WE ARE NOT SEEING THE TITRATION.

WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE BECOMING ADDICTED.

IT IS A MYTH THAT YOU CANNOT BE ADDICTED TO MARIJUANA.

BUT THE POINT I WANTED TO BRING UP ABOUT TESTING, IS WE ACTUALLY KNOW ON THE FDA HAVE SHOWN THIS THAT A LOT OF TIMES THE LAB TESTING THE STATE CERTIFIED LABS AND I HOPE MY STATE HERE GETS IT RIGHT, IN A LOT OF THE OTHER STATES LIKE COLORADO AN EARLY ADOPTER, THE TESTING IS INACCURATE.

THINGS THAT WE'RE TOLD HAVE CERTAIN POTENCY OF THC ACTUALLY DO NOT WHEN THEY ARE TESTED AGAIN BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS ILLEGAL.

WE'RE FORGETTING ABOUT FEDERAL LAW.

FEDERAL LAW DEEMS ALL OF THIS ILLEGAL THAT MEANS THERE IS NO FDA APPROVED LABS THAT NEW YORK WILL BE USING TO TEST THIS.

NO D.E.A.

APPROVE LABS.

THEY ARE LABS SETUP BY THE INDUSTRY THEMSELVES TO TEST THIS PRODUCT AND SORT OF PASS OFF AS NEW.

I WORRY ABOUT THE TESTING OF SHAMELESS PLUG.

I WROTE A BOOK CALLED SMOKE SCREEN.

AND IN SMOKE SCREEN I INTERVIEW THEET HEAD OF THE LARGEST LAB IN COLORADO WHO ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME THAT THE RESULTS OF THE PRODUCTS WERE FIBBED, FOR SALE TO THE INDUSTRY.

THE INDUSTRY DICTATED WHAT THEY WOULD BE.

I WORRY THAT WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF FAITH IN WHAT THIS INDUSTRY WHO HAS OTHER INTERESTS MAY BE REPORTING.

>> SO THAT ALL BRINGS US BACK TO SAFETY.

IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING SOMETHING THAT IS OF A MUCH HIGHER POTENCY LEVEL AND THAT BRINGS US TO SHERIFF ROBERT MACIOL AGAIN.

BECAUSE YOU ARE THE POINT OF CONTACT OFTENTIMES IF SOMEBODY IS ABUSING THE DRUG.

OR WILL BE IN THE FUTURE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S INTUITIVE THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME INCREASE OF PEOPLE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IF THERE'S MORE PEOPLE USING THE DRUG AND IF IT IS A STRONGER DRUG.

IF YOU PULL SOMEBODY OVER, YOU WERE SAYING, THERE IS NO TEST.

SO I MEAN HOW CAN YOU TELL WHETHER SOMEBODY IS IMPAIRED?

AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE DRUG DRIVING ENFORCEMENT?

>> SURE.

JUST A COUPLE THINGS BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO SOME OF THE PANELISTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN A CAR CRASH AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MARIJUANA WHEN IT'S ME OR ONE OF MY PEOPLE WE ARE THE ONES THAT KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND TELL A PARENT THEY HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE AS A RESULT OF SOMEONE'S DESTRUCTIVE DECISION TO SMOKE MARIJUANA AND DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE THEY DON'T CARE IF IT WAS 8 OR 10 HOURS AGO THEY LOST A LOVED ONE.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE DEAL WITH ON THE FRONTLINE.

I AM APPROACHING MY 32nd YEAR IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND 12TH YEAR AS THE SHERIFF.

AND WE'VE DONE WAY TOO MANY OF THOSE NOTIFICATIONS WHEN SOMEONE DIED.

AND I CAN ONLY SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING TO GO IN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS ESPECIALLY WITH SUMMER ON ITS WAY AND PROM AND BALL SEASON.

THE OTHER THING WE TALK ABOUT THE 13% TAX AND GREAT AMOUNT OF REVENUE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE AND ALL THE THINGS WE WILL DO WITH THE MONEY.

WHAT DO WE THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE BLACK MARKET?

WHAT HAPPENED IN OTHER STATES.

IT'S EXPLODED.

AND WHAT IS THE BIG ISSUE?

PEOPLE ARE GOING THAT WAY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE 13% SALES TAX.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BUYING.

WE CAN KEY ANY IT ALL DAY BUT WE KNOW THERE ARE CASES WHERE MARIJUANA HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE LAYED WITH FENTANYL AND WE KNOW FENTANYL WILL KILL PEOPLE.

THESE ARE LIKE I SAID THIS IS REALITY FOR ME.

I CERTAINLY I'M NOT A HIGHLY EDUCATED PERSON.

BUT SINCE I DAY I TURNED 20-AND-A-HALF I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER THAT IS ALL I'VE DONE MY ENTIRE LIFE MOST ON THE FRONTLINE.

IT'S VERY CONCERNING FOR US.

TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION WITH THE TRAFFIC STOPS THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY IN THIS COUNTRY THERE IS NO TECHNOLOGY TO MEASURE A PERSON'S THC LEVEL WE ARE RELYING ON THE SPECIALLY TRAINED MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS WHO GET CERTIFIED TO DO A SERIES OF SPECIALIZED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS.

AGAIN IN ORDER TO BE A DRE YOU HAVE TO BE A SEASONED POLICE OFFICER, YOU'VE GOT TO BE THROUGH AN A RIDE TRAINING.

YOU HAVE TO DO PHASE ONE AND TWO ONE OF WHICH OF THOSE PHASES IS OFFERED OUT OF STATE TRAINING THAT TAKES DEPENDING ON SCHEDULING WHATNOT IN UPWARDS OF 8 TO 10 WEEKS IN ALL.

COMES WITH COSTS AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHEN WE ARE SENDING PEOPLE TO FLORIDA OR ARIZONA TO GET CERTIFIED WHAT DO I DO WITH THE POST BACK HERE AT HOME?

I HAVE TO BACKFILL THEM WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND THERE IS NO FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO OFFSET THESE COSTS.

>> OK. A COUPLE QUESTIONS BASED ON THAT.

I WAS GOING TO SAVE THE BLACK MARKET FOR LATER BUT YOU JUMPED AHEAD ON ME.

I DO WANT TO JUST ASK ABOUT THAT.

ARE WE SEE -- YOU ARE SAYING WE ARE SEEING THE THRIVING BRACK MARKET -- BLACK MARKET IN OTHER STATES?

>> ABSOLUTELY IT'S THERE.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> DRUG DEALERS DON'T GO TO DENTAL SCHOOL WHEN YOU LEGALIZE DRUGS THEY UNDERCUT THE LEGAL MARKET ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK WITH ALL THE TAXES NOW ON IT WHICH I CAN UNDERSTAND AND I LIKE A POTENCY BASED TAX.

BUT THE REALITY IS THE DRUG DEALERS WANT TO SELL TO PEOPLE UNDER 21.

THEY WANT TO SELL AT ALL HOURS THEY DO NOT WANT TO BE RESTRICTED ON GETTING A LICENSE AND THEY CAN UNDERCUT THE LEGAL PRICE AND BE CONVENIENT.

THE BLACK MARKET FOR MARIJUANA IS NONVIOLENT IT'S GIFTED, IT'S SMALL IT'S EASY TO UNDERCUT IT.

I ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED A DRUG DEALER IN A LEGAL STATE AND SHE TOLD ME THAT BUSINESS WAS BOOMING SINCE THEIR STATE LEGALIZED.

SHE IS ABLE TO ACT UNDER RADAR, LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SORT OF NOT GOING AFTER MARIJUANA ANYMORE AND IT'S GREAT FOR HER.

SHE CAN SELL TO HER CUSTOMERS UNDERCUT THE LEGAL PRICE AND WE'VE SEEN THAT IN CALIFORNIA TOO.

WHAT A THRIVING MARKET.

AND CANADA.

>> I WANT TO JUMP IN HERE TO OFFER A REFRAME AWAY FROM THE TERM OF BLACK MARKET WHICH IS RACIALLY INAPPROPRIATE.

OFFERING THAT IN THE BILL, THAT ACTUALLY PASSED AND BECAME LAW IN NEW YORK THERE ARE MECHANISMS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON BRIDGING PEOPLE FROM THE LEGACY MARKET INTO THE ABOVE GROUND ECONOMY INTO THE LICENSED SPACE.

AS A MICRO BUSINESS LICENSE THERE IS AN INCUBATOR PROGRAM GEARED TOWARDS SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS.

PART OF WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN STATES THAT BLOCKED PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE UNDERGROUND MARKET FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE REGULATORY ECONOMY.

SO YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK SUPPORTING THEIR FAMILIES THIS WAY, ARE ACTUALLY PART AND PARCEL BLOCKED OUT.

NEW YORK DID THAT DIFFERENTLY.

SETUP A SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM WITH PRIORITIZATION FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE WAR ON DRUGS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE REGULATED SPACE TO HAVE THAT TRANSITION FROM THE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY INTO THE REGULATED MARKETPLACE BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION AND IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO BRING LAURA SCHULTZ BACK IN HERE.

I UNDERSTAND IN THE LAW WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THIS POINT YET BUT THERE IS AN OPT-OUT PROVISION FOR MUNICIPALITIES.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO ALONG WITH THIS, IS THAT HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THEY ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN NEW YORK HAVE NINE MONTHS TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE GOING TO DO OPT-OUT OF CANNABIS DISPENSERIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY HAVE 9 MONTHS TO CHOOSE NOT TO OFFER ANY LICENSES.

AFTER THAT NINE-MONTH PERIOD, A COMMUNITY CANNOT CHOOSE TO OPT-OUT.

ANY COMMUNITY THAT OPTED OUT CAN OPT-IN.

AND WHEN 2019 WHEN THIS WAS FIRST DISCUSSED THERE WERE PARTS OF NEW YORK THAT WERE ACTIVELY PURSUING OPT-OUT OPTIONS.

MANY COMMUNITIES IN LONG ISLAND HAD COMMITTED TO BEING OPTING OUT.

AND THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES THAT OPT-OUT WILL CERTAINLY AFFECT THE FISCAL IMPACT AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT.

>> DO WE KNOW ANYTHING HAVE WE HEARD SINCE THE LAW HAS BEEN PASSED, DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE FOR HOW MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES, MUNICIPALITIES WILL OPT-OUT?

>> I BELIEVE IT'S STILL ACTIVE IN LONG ISLAND VERY MUCH SO.

YOU SEE A LOT OF THE LARGER CITIES NEW YORK CITY AND LARGER CITIES GOING TO BE OPTING IN.

AND WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE MAP WILL LOOK LIKE.

>> WE COULD END UP WITH A SITUATION WHERE THE CITIES ARE OPTING IN BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES ARE OPTING OUT?

>> INTERESTINGLY, THIS IS CONNECTED TO THE LAST POINT AS WELL AROUND THE UNDERGROUND MARKET WHAT WE SEE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS LIKE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE WE HAVE MANY COUNTIES WHERE THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF VOTERS VOTED FOR PROP 64 THE BALLOT INITIATIVE THAT LEGALIZED CANNABIS YET THEN YOU HAVE A HIGHER ELECTED OFFICIAL OR WHOEVER WITHIN THAT COUNTY THAT THEN TRIED TO OPT-OUT.

WHEN YOU BLOCK OFF PEOPLE'S LEGAL REGULATED ACCESS THEY STILL WANT ACCESS AND THAT CREATES THE SITUATION IN WHICH YOU HAVE MORE ACTIVITY WITHIN THE UNDERGROUND MARKET BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN PEOPLE A LEGAL SANCTIONED MARKETPLACE THAT THEY CAN USE.

SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS IF OUR GOAL IS REALLY TO TRANSITION THE UNDERGROUND MARKET INTO THE LEGAL REGULATED SPACE, HAVING JURISDICTIONS PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGAL MARKET IS CRUCIAL TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

AND CERTAINLY IN NEW YORK AS WELL.

WE KNOW THAT THERE'S BROAD SUPPORT ALL ACROSS THE STATE FOR LEGALIZATION, FOR ACCESS.

I SAW A POLL BEFORE THE BILL PASSED AMONG PEOPLE WHO EVEN SAID WITHIN THE POLL THAT THEY DID NOT FAVOR LEGALIZATION, STILL A MAJORITY OF THOSE PEOPLE SAID THEY WOULD BE LIKELY TO VISIT A DISPENSARY ONCE IT WAS LEGAL.

THERE IS A BIT OF DISCONNECT FOR PEOPLE.

BUT WE KNOW MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE A LEGAL SANCTIONED MARKET IN ORDER TO ACCESS THAT IS MUCH SAFER AND MUCH BETTER IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY TRANSITIONING THAT UNDERGROUND ECONOMY.

>> THE MARIJUANA REGULATION AND TAXATION ACT WILL GIVE FARMERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND PROCESS LEGAL MARIJUANA.

AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.

BUT THE GROWING SEASON IS SHORT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

AND THOSE FARMERS ARE WAITING FOR THE STATE TO CREATE THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD SO THEY CAN GET STARTED.

KEVIN MILLER SPOKE WITH ONE CORTLAND FORMER WHO BELIEVES THE WINDOW INTO MARIJUANA PRODUCTION IS NOW.

>> IN THESE FIELDS LAST YEAR, WE GREW 35 ACRES OF HEMP.

EVERY FIELD THAT YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, TO THE TREES, TO THOSE TREES AND DOWN TO THOSE TREES WAS HEMP FOR CBD AND OUT OF THOSE FIELDS WE DO ALL HAND HARVESTING.

WE BRING IT DOWN TO THE PROCESSING FACILITY AND THAT IS HOW WE MAKE OUR OWN HEAD AND HEELS CBD OIL.

OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO GROW IN THE SAME FIELDS ADULT USE CANNABIS SUPPLYING THE LEGAL MARKET IN NEW YORK STATE.

>> ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I FOUNDED AND AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CANNABIS GROWERS AND PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION.

IT IS A GROUP.

FARMERS AND COMPANIES WHO ARE GROWING HEMP FOR CBD AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IN THE ADULT USE LEGALIZATION THAT JUST PASSED.

SO WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO GROW ADULT USE CANNABIS HERE AT THE FARM ALONGSIDE OF OUR HEMP FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

AND WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE LAWS TO CHANGE.

NOW THAT IT'S FINALLY LEGAL, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND WORK WITH THE STATE ON WHEN WE CAN ACTUALLY START GETTING PLANTED.

THE WAY IT IS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO PLANT AND HARVEST CANNABIS.

YOU CAN ONLY PLANT IT AROUND MAY AND JUNE.

>> GOOD MORNING AGAIN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

HERE IS GARY FROM GARY'S INDOOR GARDENS.

AND LICNY NOW LEGAL.

BECAUSE WE WON.

>> OUTDOOR CULTIVATION IN NEW YORK STATE IS SEASONAL SOME OF THE STRAINS THAT THEY GROW IN THE WILL BE SPECIFIC TO NEW YORK STATE AND IT IS NOT AS FORGIVES AS HEMP.

IF YOU HAVE A FAIL YOU HAVE A FAIL INSIDE OF A FOUR-MONTH WINDOW.

THE PREP WORK WILL HAPPEN IN GREENHOUSES BUT ONCE IT GOES OUTDOORS, 16-18 WEEKS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> THE EARLIEST WE COULD DO IT FOR FARMERS LIKE MYSELF IS NEXT MAY, 2022.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE REALLY PUSHING THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET US OUR LICENSES SOMETIME THIS YEAR SO WE CAN GET READY AND START PLANTING FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> THE MAIN REASON FOR ME VOTING NO WAS TOO MANY QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IS THE INABILITY TO ACTUALLY TEST AS AN INDIVIDUAL IS DRIVING.

THAT WOULD BE THE FOUNDATION AS WE LOOK AT EMPLOYERS.

NOW SOME EMPLOYERS ALREADY HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE.

SO IT WILL BE VERY SMOOTH FOR THEM BUT NOT FOR OTHERS.

PRIOR TO THE LEGISLATION, I HOPED WE WOULD TAKE MORE TIME.

I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK.

OUR GROWING DAYS ARE LIMITED.

SO THERE'S SO MUCH CONSIDERATION.

THE ONE THING IS AS FARMERS ARE RESILIENT THEY ARE INNOVATIVE, THEY ADJUST.

BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT FARMERS WERE GOING TO ASK WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS INDUSTRY, WHAT TYPE OF SWITCH THEY WILL BE MAKING.

AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO PREPARE THEM FOR THAT.

>> NEW YORK STATE NEEDS ONE MILLION POUNDS AT LEAST OF THC CANNABIS TO SATISFY THE LEGAL MARKET.

ONE MILLION POUNDS.

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OUR FARM WE'RE GROWING HEMP FOR CBD ON 35 ACRES.

AND WE'RE HARVESTING ABOUT 70,000 POUNDS A YEAR.

SO THAT IS A LOT OF CANNABIS.

BUT WE STILL NEED SEVERAL HUNDRED FARMERS AT LEAST TO SUPPLY THAT ONE MILLION POUNDS.

>> I THINK INITIALLY, AS MANY OF THE ASPECTS OF GROWING CANNABIS WILL BE THROUGH A GREENHOUSE SETUP SO AS FAR AS LOOKING AT ACTUALLY GROWING IT WITHIN THE FARMS, I THINK WE'RE QUITE A FEW YEARS OUT.

>> THOSE FIVE MEMBERS WILL START BUILDING OUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF THE REGULATORS, THE TAXES, THE LICENSING PROGRAM, THE APPLICATIONS, THAT EVERYONE WILL NEED TO GET LICENSED TO GROW CANNABIS.

>> THIS IS NEW STUFF FOR US.

NEW APPOINTMENTS AND NEW ENTITIES BUT THEY GOT THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

WHEN WE ENTER UNCHARTERED TERRITORIES IN THE STATE ALL EYES ALL PRESSURE, ALL FOCUS ON THESE NEW ENTITIES THE CONTROL BOARD, THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN TERMS OF REGULATION.

>> IF THE BOARD APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT MADE AND VOTED AND CONFIRMED BY JUNE 10TH WE ARE POTENTIALLY WAITING YEARS FOR THE PROGRAM TO GET UP AND RUNNING AND OFF THE GROUND AND THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

BECAUSE THAT IS YEARS OF PEOPLE BUYING CANNABIS FROM THE ILLICIT MARKET AND YEARS THAT FARMERS LIKE MYSELF ARE STANDING BY WITH GREENHOUSES AND EMPLOYEES REAL INFRASTRUCTURE READY TO CREATE 50,000 PLUS JOBS ACROSS THE STATE THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING.

>> IT IS TO EVOLVE THIS YEAR AND IT SHOULD COME INTO PLACE AND THAT WOULD BE SETTING THIS UP PRIOR TO ACTUALLY HAVING INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION AS WELL AS SALES.

>> AND THEIR JOB IS NOT DONE WHEN THEY DO THE REGULATIONS AND THE PERMITS AND THE REGISTERED ORGANIZATIONS, THE DISPENSARIES.

THE WORK BEGINS.

WHEN YOU THINK THEIR WORK IS DONE THE ACTUAL WORK BEGINS AND WE WILL IMPLEMENT IT.

WE'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT YEAR-AND-A-HALF TWO YEARS THE WORK OF THESE NEW ENTITIES FOR OUR STATE AND HOPEFULLY THEY DO THE RIGHT THING AS THE BILL INTENDED IT TO DO.

>> WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE WITH CHEAP PRODUCTS BEING GROWN IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A DECADE.

THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND EMPLOYEES THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

THERE IS A HUGE LEARNING CURVE.

YOU ARE NOT JUST GOING TO PLANT THE FIRST YEAR AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DENY A FARMER AN OPPORTUNITY IF THEY FEEL THAT BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK THEY PUT FORTH.

BUT I STILL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF FOOD, COMMODITY WHETHER IT'S BEEF COWS OR MILK COWS OR AGRICULTURE IN THE SENSE OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES THOSE ARE MANDATORY IN SOCIETY.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

NOW IF WE ARE GOING TO CONVERT TO INDIVIDUALS RAISING CANNABIS, IS THERE GOING TO BE THE ABILITY FOR US TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES?

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET PLANTS IN THE GROUND BY MAY 2022.

SO WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR ALL OF THOSE AGRICULTURAL CERTAINTIES OF UNCERTAINTY.

SO THE LONGER WE WAIT TO GET OUR INDUSTRY UP AND RUNNING, THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL BE WE WILL NOT HAVE AN INDUSTRY.

>> OWE CAME.

LAURA SCHULTZ, >> OK. LAURA SCHULTZ, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY FOR A MOMENT.

WE JUST HEARD IN THAT PIECE, THE FARMERS ARE WANT TO GET PLANTING TO GET GOING WITH THIS.

IT'S NOT LIKE SOME FARMERS ARE GOING TO BE SELLING MARIJUANA FROM THE BACK OF THEIR CAR OR AT A FARMER'S MARKET A RETAIL NETWORK WOULD NEED TO BE SETUP IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK AS DESIGNED.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET UP AND HAVE AN INDUSTRY?

>> WELL, THE KEY THING ABOUT A CANNABIS INDUSTRY IS IT HAS TO BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE STATE.

THE ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR THIS INDUSTRY CANNOT CROSS STATE BORDERS.

WHICH MEANS IT WILL HAVE A LARGER IMPACT WHILE THAT REMAINS TRUE.

AND I THINK -- >> IS THAT THE LAW?

>> YES.

AS LONG AS IT IS ILLEGAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, IT ALL HAS TO STATE WITHIN THE STATE.

SO TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING, THERE'S THERE ARE SOME FIRMS THAT HAVE A NATURAL ADVANTAGE THE CULTIVATORS AND PROCESSORS THAT HAD MEDICAL LICENSES ARE MAKING MAJOR INVESTMENTS ANNOUNCED ALMOST $100 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS IN EXPANSION OF THEIR OPERATIONS.

ACROSS THE STATE.

IN COMMUNITIES LIKE FULTON COUNTY, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, WARREN COUNTY.

THESE ARE UPSTATE, LONG ISLAND, POTENTIALLY CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

AND THEN IN ADDITION, ONLY HALF OF THESE LICENSES ARE GOING TO BE GIVEN TO DESIGNATED FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES, FOR LICENSEES WHO HAVE BEEN DISADVANTAGED FOR FARMERS FOR SERVICE VETERANS.

WHEN THE LAW WAS SETUP, IT WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GET THEM INTO THE INDUSTRY AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THEM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ECONOMIC.

>> THE OTHER INDUSTRY -- >> HOLD ON JUST ONE MOMENT KEVIN.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE FOR THIS, TOO, RIGHT?

THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE ON THAT END AS WELL?

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED TO GET THE LICENSES UP AND RUNNING.

YOU NEED DEFINED DEFINITIONS AND I THINK THE FARMER MADE AN EXCELLENT POINT THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IF THERE'S GOING TO BE OUTDOOR CULTIVATION THERE IS A CALENDAR AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.

NEW YORK DEFINITELY IS FEELING THE PRESSURE TO GET THIS UP AND RUNNING >> NOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE IS $100 MILLION COMING FROM THE MEDICINAL INDUSTRY TRYING TO MOVE INTO THIS RECREATIONAL INDUSTRY.

AND KEVIN IN THE FIRST ANSWER YOU MENTIONED COMMERCIALIZATION.

AND SO WHAT IS THE DANGER THERE AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS KIND OF MONEY?

I ASSUME IT WOULD BE MORE THAN $100 MILLION COMING INTO THE FIELD?

>> THAT IS PENNIES.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AN INDUSTRY IS THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY.

WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE INVESTING BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALREADY EVEN IN EARLY STATES AND EARLY ADOPTERS IN THIS COUNTRY TO TAKEOVER THE MARKET.

THE IDEA THAT A KID FROM THE BRONX IS GOING TO ALL OF A SUDDEN BECOME A MARIJUANA MILLIONAIRE BECAUSE THE STATE HAS A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS HIM TO GET A LICENSE IS SAD, PERVERSE IF NOT [LAUGHTER] PGHABLE.

IN ILLINOIS THEY ARE TRYING TO DO A SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM AND GIVE LICENSES THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN ONE.

THERE IS NO MILLIONAIRES BEING MADE IN ILLINOIS.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE STATE PRIDED ITSELF ON PASSING A RACIALLY JUSTICE MOTIVATED BILL.

SAME THING IN NEW YORK WE ARE HEARING A LOT OF LIP SERVICE.

THIS IS ABOUT MASSIVE CORPORATIONS, MULTIBILLION DOLLARS MULTINATIONAL THEY WILL EAT UP ALL OF THESE FARMERS ALL OF THESE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROVIDERS, QUICK CAVEAT NOT ALL THE FARMERS WANT IT.

LIBERAL TOWN OF WILLIAMS TOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, THEY VOTED DOWN ALLOWING FARMING BECAUSE WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE FARMING LANDSCAPE AND WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR FARMING COMMUNITY WHEN YOU START GROWING VERY SMELLY, MARIJUANA WHICH NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED BY CHAIN FENCES AND SECURITY GUARDS.

THAT ASIDE I'M VERY, VERY WORRIED.

MELISSA I'M NOT DONE YET.

I'M NOT DONE YET.

THANK YOU.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY AS WELL.

THE ALCOHOL INDUSTRY IN ADDITION TO THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN THIS OVER.

WE'RE JUST NOT PREPARED THIS IS NOT -- THIS IS BY THE GUISE THAT LIKED US FOR 100 YEARS OF THE HARMS OF TOBACCO.

>> KEVIN WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?

>> COMING FROM PHILLIP MORRIS, IMPERIAL BRANDS, LUCKY STRIKES.

MOLSON COORS.

>> BIG TOBACCO AND BIG ALCOHOL, YES AND THEY ARE FORMING COUNCILS LOBBYING GROUPS, CALLED THE U.S. CANNABIS COUNCIL LED BY A FORMER REGULATOR IN COLORADO ALL BIG TOBACCO AND BIG ALCOHOL ONBOARD.

>> HOW CAN WE TRUST THEM?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SPECIFIC ABOUT THE NEW YORK LAW IT ACTUALLY SETUP THE PARAMETERS FOR THE INDUSTRY IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON SMALL BUSINESSES ON SOCIAL EQUITY APPLICANTS ON WORKER COOPERATIVES ON A DIFFERENT STRUCTURE THAT IS NOT ABOUT SERVING THE BIG BUSINESS INTERESTS THAT KEVIN IS TALKING ABOUT.

I ENCOURAGE HIM TO WORK WITH US IN PREVENTING BIG BUSINESSES FROM BEING PART TO HAVE IN NEW YORK AND CENTERING THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST HARMED AND THE SOCIAL EQUITY PROGRAM GETS UP AND RUNNING.

WE ARE AT A CRITICAL JUNCTURE AS ALAN SPOKE ABOUT IN THE PIECE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE THAT IS SET IN PLACE FOR THE OFFICE OF CANNABIS MANAGEMENT AND THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD IS REALLY REFLECTIVE OF THE VALUES AND IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON THEIR LAND WHEN THEY ARE FACING HUGE CRISIS IN OTHER CROPS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GROWING FOR YEARS.

>> MELISSA, IF WE DO HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY GOING INTO THE SYSTEM, THE CAPITALISM NEEDS GROWTH, RIGHT?

SO PRESUMABLY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE AND BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL.

THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT TO WANT TO SMOKE MARIJUANA OR USE AN EDIBLE BECAUSE IT'S LEGAL.

YOUR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION STATEMENT TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND ATTITUDES THAT BEST REDUCE BOTH DRUG USE AND DRUG PROHIBITION.

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

WON'T THE LATTER INCREASE THE FORMER?

>> NO.

INTERESTINGLY WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT PROHIBITION HAS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE AT ALL AT THE STATED GOAL OF KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE WHEN WE CONSIDER A BROAD DEFINITION OF SAFETY THAT MEANS NOT HAVING PEOPLE BE UNJUSTLY TARGETED FOR MARIJUANA CRIMINALIZATION IN A WAY THAT UPENDS THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS A HUGE ISSUE IN NEW YORK WHERE WE'VE HAD 800,000 ARRESTS FOR CANNABIS POSSESSION IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD INTO A NEW DAY ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES THAT LEGALIZED IT AND IT'S INTERESTING IS THE BIGGEST UP PARTICULAR IN USE IS UPTICK IS IS BABY-BOOMERS, THEY DON'T USE OPIOIDS AND OTHER MUCH MORE HARMFUL AND ADDICTIVE THINGS.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IN THE FULL VIEW WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS.

AND NOT HIT WITH THE HAMMER OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> AND ONE THING -- >> LET ME ASK YOU... 68% OF AMERICANS SAY THAT THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS.

SO I MEAN ARE YOU JUST FACING AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK?

ARE YOU OUT OF STEP WITH THE REST OF AMERICA?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS AND DIG DEEPER THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF DECRIMINALIZATION WHEN GIVEN CHOICES.

WHEN YOU GIVE A YES OR NO, YES, YOU HAVE A 60% MAYBE YES.

BUT WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT POP SHOPS IN THEIR COMMUNITY AS WE TALKED ABOUT THE MAJORITY DON'T WANT THEM.

BECAUSE THE RESEARCH SHOWS IT DECREASES PROPERTY VALUE AND INCREASES DRUG USE AND YOUTH USE WHEN YOU HAVE A STORE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THOSE POLLS ARE NUANCED.

I DON'T CARE IF NEW YORK OR ALL OF THE STATES LEGALIZE.

WE HAVE TO EDUCATE NO MATTER WHAT ON THE HARMS.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THIS BUT IT IS ASTONISHING WE HAVE HAVEN'T BROUGHT UP THE HARM OF MARIJUANA TO PEOPLE AND FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOPING BRAINS UNDER 30 YEARS OLD.

TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE, SCHIZOPHRENIA ALL OF THE STUDIES EVERY MAJOR MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IN THIS COUNTRY OPPOSES THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA.

SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THOSE HARMS.

I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE PUTTING PEOPLE IN PRISON OR ARRESTING THEM BUT THE IDEA THAT WE WANT TO PROMOTE THIS AND GET MONEY FOR THE STATE I DON'T SEE IT ENDING WELL.

IT NEVER ENDED WELL WITH OPIOIDS, ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO.

I DON'T KNOW WHY WE THINK IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CRIMINALIZATION FOR A MOMENT.

BECAUSE IT IS -- THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF DRUG CRIMES IN THE WAR ON DRUGS ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ESPECIALLY IN THE U.S. AND I'M WONDERING IS THIS IN ANYWAY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THAT?

AND TO IF WE'RE NOT PUTTING PEOPLE IN PRISON FOR LOW LEVEL POSSESSION OF A SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA, IS THAT GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR PRISON POPULATION IN A SUBSTANTIAL WAY?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE SHERIFF BECAUSE THE SHERIFF IS THE ONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SHERIFF, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE YOU PUTTING IN PRISON WHOSE ONLY CRIME WAS SMOKING MARIJUANA?

>> SURE.

ZERO.

32 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE SHERIFF OF THE 9TH LARGEST JAIL OUT OF THE 62 COUNTIES IN NEW YORK STATE, THE TIME I'VE BEEN THE SHERIFF WE'VE HAD ZERO IN OUR FACILITY.

I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERY OTHER SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

PEOPLE DO NOT GET INCARCERATED FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.

ANY ARREST THAT I MADE NONCUSTODIAL ARREST YOU DO NOT GO TO PRISON OR JAIL.

IF SOMEONE IS PICKED UP ON A CHARGE AND SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY HAVE MARIJUANA IN THEIR POSSESSION, YES, THAT COULD BE A CHARGE THAT IS ATTACHED TO A MUCH LARGER ISSUE.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR THE 800,000 PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION.

AGAIN WE DIDN'T DIG INTO THE DETAILS OF THOSE 800,000 ARRESTS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IN ONEIDA COUNTY AND UPSTATE JAILS IT'S ZERO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO DIG INTO THE DETAILS IT'S NOT A SMALL MATTER.

HAVING AN ARREST FOR ANY SUBSTANCE HAVING AN ARREST WHATSOEVER CAN LEAD TO BEING KICKED OUT OF STABLE HOUSING IT CAN LEAD TO NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS A JOB AND YOUR FAMILY TORN APART WHEN THE ARRESTS HAVE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON PEOPLE OF COLOR DESPITE THE FACT WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE USE CANNABIS AT EQUAL RATES.

>> WHY NOT STOP ARRESTS BUT NOT LEGALIZE?

>> LOOKING FORWARD.

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE] ADDRESSING THOSE HARMS AND AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SURE THAT AND JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE WERE ACTUALLY HELD FOR 30-60 DAYS ON A LOW LEVEL POSSESSION MISDEMEANOR.

UPSTATE PEOPLE WERE BEING HELD AT TWICE THE RATE AS PEOPLE DOWN STATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTED NEW YORKERS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THERE'S RESTITUTION FOR THE HARM THAT HAS BEEN DONE.

AND A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, AGAIN KEVIN TALKS ABOUT DECRIMINALIZATION, THE 800,000 ARRESTS WERE DOING DECRIMINALIZATION.

YET WE HAVE RACIAL DISPARITIES.

AND WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE IMPACTS OF EXTREME MARIJUANA ARRESTS TARGETED IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, OVERLAYING THAT WITH DATA AROUND ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY IN THOSE SAME COMMUNITIES AND THEN OVERLAYING THE IMPACTS OF COVID WE SEE AGAIN AND AGAIN IT'S THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE THE TARGETS OF EACH AND EVERYONE OF THESE.

>> THE LAW WILL EXPUNGE, WILL IT NOT, CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HAVE A CONVICTION FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NO LONGER GOING TO BE CONSIDERED A CRIME?

THE LAW WILL RETROACTIVELY EXPUNGE THOSE, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BECAUSE OF THE RECOGNITION THAT THOSE ARRESTS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND ARE HUGELY DETRIMENTAL TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES AND ACCESS JOBS AND BE PART OF SOCIETY IN THE WAY THAT WE WANT THEM TO BE.

YES THERE IS AM PARTICULAR EXPUNGEMENT IN THE BILL THAT IS IMPORTANT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT OPERATING FROM A SPACE OF CRIMINALIZATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

IF PEOPLE ARE OPERATING IN THE UNDERGROUND COMPANY LET'S MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM TO COME INTO THE LICENSED SPACE.

>> WHY NOT JUST HAVE A MODIFIED DECRIMINALIZATION LAW THAT EXPUNGES RECORDS, AND THAT DOESN'T ARREST PEOPLE WHY DO WE NEED TO TREE CREATE AN INDUSTRY THAT PROMOTES THE USE OF A DRUG 30 TIMES STRONGER WITH NO LIMITS ON POTENCY IN A WAY THAT WILL BE HARMFUL TO FAMILIES.

DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR LET'S TALK ABOUT IMPACT OF ADDICTION ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND OUR LEGAL DRUGS LIKE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TARGET COMMUNITIES OF COLOR THERE ARE EIGHT TIMES MORE POINTS OF SALE OF TOBACCO IN POORER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR NOT BECAUSE UPPER CLASS COMMUNITIES DON'T BUY BUT THEY TARGET THE MOST VULNERABLE.

HOW IS THAT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> HOLD IT THERE.

WE HAVE ABOUT 45 SECONDS LEFT AND I WANT TO GIVE A QUICK GO AROUND IS THERE ANY ONE LESSON PERHAPS FROM OTHER STATES THAT WE SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

SHERIFF, I WILL START WITH YOU?

>> TRAFFIC DEATHS.

YOU LOOK AT TRAFFIC DATA FROM STATES AROUND HERE AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL BE DEALING WITH THE MOST THE NUMBER OF CAR CRASHES, INJURIES AND FATALITIES CAUSED BY PEOPLE MAKING A DESTRUCTIVE DECISION OF USING MARIJUANA AND OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE.

>> LAURA SCHULTZ?

>> WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE TAX RATE AND BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.

IF YOU SET IT TOO HIGH, THE UNDIDDER GROUND MARKET IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE.

SOME STATES HAVE LOWERED TAX RATES IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET MORE OF THE REVENUE AND SUPPRESS THE UNDERGROUND MARKET.

>> KEVIN?

A QUICK POINT TO TAKE?

>> SURE.

POTENCY CAPS WE NEED TO WORK ON MAKING THESE PRODUCTS LIMIT THESE PRODUCTS WE DON'T NEED CANDY BARS.

>> OK. AND MELISSA, LAST WORD.

>> GREAT.

I THINK IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A SUCCESS IN NEW YORK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ADULT USE PROGRAM PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMED BY PROHIBITION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH-IN ON THE SHOW, YOU CAN DO SO AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

VISIT US AT OUR WEBSITE.

ON BEHALF OF THE CONNECT NEW YORK TEAM I'M DAVID CHANATRY AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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