De Blasio supports Cuomo in the legalization of recreational marijuana

According to the report, published Wednesday night, the Board of mayor, which was mandated to consider the legalization of recreational marijuana, recommends the abolition of convictions related to trafficking of marijuana and to provide assistance to «various parties» for legalization of their activities.

Press Secretary of mayor de Blasio, Olivia Laperriere, on Wednesday evening presented a report on page 71 prepared by the task force of the mayor to legalize cannabis, in anticipation of the expected in Thursday’s press conference, mayor bill de Blasio and his wife.

Legalizing marijuana in New York is a change that must happen and it must happen the right way. It’s time to rewrite the rules of the past and marry opportunity with justice. pic.twitter.com/xrB4Vz3EWo

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 20, 2018

«We have a unique opportunity to solve a historical problem for future generations of new Yorkers,» said de Blasio in a letter annexed to the report. «Legal cannabis arrives in new York».

In recent years, starting in 2012, ten States and the district of Columbia, including Colorado and Washington, has been declared legal recreational marijuana.

Earlier, de Blasio spoke out against the legalization of marijuana, but his wife is a supporter of legalization. A similar change of position occurs with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, who said he wants to legalize recreational marijuana in early next year. Although in the past year, Cuomo has called marijuana a «harmful drug».

In the report, the city Commission recommended to restrict the purchase and possession of marijuana for those who are under the age of 21 years, impose restrictions similar to those that apply to alcohol and apply a «maximum extent possible» civil rather than criminal penalties for violation of the new rules.

De Blasio said he wanted to create a local cannabis industry. And the working group recommends to help «communities that are disproportionately affected by the criminalization of many years, to obtain a fair share of business» in the future of the cannabis industry, including preferential licensing and special jobs. According to the American civil liberties Union, African Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately legal prosecutions for marijuana use.

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