Albany, N.Y. – The new power-sharing agreement in the New York State Senate could breathe new life into moribund pieces of legislation.
In an editorial earlier this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would support the odd arrangement that joins several Democrats with the Republican conference should the Senate support a bundle of his initiatives.
Decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana is not on that list, but that proposal may make it before the Senate all the same.
“I think there are a number of different things that are going to be considered in the Senate that normally wouldn’t have been in the recent years,” said newly-elected State Senator Ted O’Brien, a Democrat.
Over the summer, Cuomo came out in support of making possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana in the “public view” a violation rather than a criminal misdemeanor, but that proposal went up in smoke in the Republican-controlled Senate.
“Being able to just walk around with 10 joints in each ear, and it only be a violation, I think that’s wrong,” said Majority Leader Dean Skelos, a Republican.
There is also talk of trying to legalize medical marijuana, but O’Brien does not believe that will gain much traction.
