Edited by: TJVNews.com
Seems like the recreational marijuana industry may be getting a real boost from some local elected officials. According to a recent report in the NY Post, on Wednesday, Democratic mayoral nominee Eric Adams said at a Brooklyn news conference that he was gratified to hear that Gov Kathy Hochul was doing everything within her bailiwick to further the sale of marijuana across the Empire State.
Declaring an enthusiastic “Bring the joints!” Adams said that he was happy to hear that Hochul had picked nominees to head the Office of Cannabis Management and Cannabis Control Board under terms of the legal weed law enacted earlier this year, as was reported by the Post.
As a former NYPD captain and someone who does not smoke, Adams also struck a note of caution about people getting stoned all the time.
“You know, it’s time. Let’s get this done,” he said, according to the Post report. He added that, “But let’s be smart in the process. We should not send a signal out to students, people who operate heavy devices or people who are doing and making decisions that are life-threatening or life-saving — we should not state it’s OK to smoke cannabis.”
At a primary debate last year, Adams said that he is most definitely not a pot smoker. As he prepares to leave the post of Brooklyn’s Borough President, Adams’ office called his “Bring the Joints” remark a way of saying that he wanted to see the regulatory system for the recreational use of pot come to its final stages.
The sale of recreational use marijuana is likely to generate approximately $350 million per annum for the state coffers, as was reported by the Post.
The Post also reported that Adams also gave his imprimatur to Hochul’s plan for legislators to extend the moratorium on evictions (caused by the Covid pandemic) until January 15th.
“It’s important. A real win. I’m happy the state lawmakers are returning to Albany,” he said. Adams added that, “This is not only helpful for the tenants, but helpful for landlords.” The Post reported that Adams appeared to confuse the planned extension with the state’s federally funded, $2.6 billion rent-relief program.
Angered at the state for defying last week’s ruling by the US Supreme Court which struck down the eviction extension that was ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Rent Stabilization Association has threatened to file suit if the state challenges the high court’s ruling.
The Post reported that an Adams campaign spokesman said the candidate was referring to $150 million in additional money for the Emergency Relief Rental Assistance program that was expected to pass the legislature Wednesday alongside the moratorium extension. Those funds will be used to pay back rent owed to landlords from tenants who faced economic hardship during the coronavirus pandemic, as was reported by the paper.
