Mayoral candidate and comptroller John Liu released a report yesterday detailing the potential benefits of medical cannabis in NYC today, hot on the heels of his announcement that he’d like to see the plant legalized for recreational and medicinal use in the city. According to the report, there are 100,000 New Yorkers who could benefit from medical cannabis. Liu also lays out a plan for implementation, which involves opening city-owned grow operations and establishing a $100 million research fund.
Interestingly, the press release was issued through the office of the comptroller, not Liu’s election campaign, though it sounds as much like a campaign promise as it does a comptroller’s recommendation for the city’s finances.
Liu putting so much emphasis on cannabis all of a sudden may seem like a hail mary at first–and there’s no denying that it would be difficult for him to legalize it as mayor–but the rising tide shouldn’t be discounted. Even the DOJ is getting more weed-friendly, after all.
