New York Health Department Stands Behind Cannabis Legalization

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]I[/dropcap]n a report to current New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the New York State Health Department determined that medical cannabis legalization brings more benefits than harm to the community. Gov. Cuomo first announced that there would a study on state legalization in January.

The report, officially titled as the Assessment of the Potential Impact of Regulated Marijuana in New York State, is a 75-paged document. The document encompasses a collection of various articles and studies pertaining to cannabis legalization and its relationship with health, the economy and the law.

Among the various studies included in the report was one particular case that looked to determine how cannabis consumption may affect liver disease in those who abuse alcohol. The results revealed that those who used both alcohol and cannabis “showed significantly lower odds of developing alcoholic steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.” Furthermore, dependent consumers of cannabis actually had “significantly lowers odds than non-dependent users for developing liver disease.” The overall conclusion of the study states that cannabis consumption is in fact associated with lowered incidence of liver disease in alcoholics.

Another study found that “medical cannabis laws are associated with significantly lower state-level opioid overdose mortality rates.” The extensive lists of articles included in the health department’s report overwhelmingly displayed final results that detailed the benefits of cannabis use, over any negative consequences.

One particular study in the health department’s report concluded that “minor cannabis violations as a pathway to criminal justice system” had been significantly reduced, however, “disproportionate enforcement upon racial/ethnic minorities” is still ongoing.

Overall, the health department’s assessment declared that criminalization had not “curbed” cannabis consumption. Instead it has only “disproportionately affected low-income communities of color.”  The report included that the legalization of cannabis is projected to bring in between 284.1 million and 677.7 million in tax revenue in the first year alone.

The cannabis question has been one that several states in the country have been tackling in recent years. Neighboring states to New York such as Massachusetts and Vermont have already legalized the possession of cannabis. While medical cannabis in New York is already legal, in comparison to other democratic states, New York proves to be behind on progressive legislation. With the recent assessment conducted by the New York Health Department, cannabis advocates can be hopeful to see steps taken in the right direction towards legalization.