How Democrats are failing on legalized marijuana [View all]
Overall, the year has not lived up to expectations.
By PAUL DEMKO, SHIA KAPOS and SAM SUTTON 05/19/2019 07:15 AM EDT
This was supposed to be the big year for marijuana legalization. But in many state capitols across the country, efforts have stalled or collapsed as Democrats clash over everything from race and criminal justice to how to divvy up a gold mine of pot tax revenue.
Legalization of recreational marijuana seemed all but inevitable in at least a half dozen states when the year began — including Democratic legislatures in New York, New Jersey and Illinois.
But in state after state, proposals encountered significant turbulence, and the clock is now running out on the legislative season.
New Jersey’s top lawmaker declared the state’s legalization drive dead and will instead support a 2020 ballot referendum. New York Democrats are trying to rekindle efforts to pass a bill that would permit recreational use after negotiations stalled out during the budget process in March. And in New Mexico, a legalization bill got pushed aside for more pressing priorities, most notably boosting education funding.
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/19/democrats-marijuana-legalization-1331710