Mayor de Blasio is calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana.
He’s making the push on Thursday after a report was issued detailing how it should be done. It suggests setting a minimum age of 21 to buy pot and creating a ban on using it in public.
The report also said that old minor convictions should be thrown out.
“Now, legalization offers an opportunity to automatically expunge low-level marijuana convictions, giving New Yorkers a clean slate and a clear future,” de Blasio said in a statement.
De Blasio’s position has evolved, after previously saying he was worried about the safety and health issues associated with using marijuana.
His announcement comes just a few days after Governor Cuomo announced his support for legalizing marijuana statewide. Cuomo’s position has also evolved, as he previously referred to it as a gateway drug.
It’s estimated that legalizing marijuana could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for the state and city.
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