Recreational marijuana hearings, listening sessions coming to New York

ALBANY - New York residents will have plenty of opportunity to weigh in on marijuana as state leaders continue to take steps toward legalizing the drug for recreational purposes.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration this week announced a series of 15 "listening sessions" to be held across the state, including in Rochester and Binghamton, where residents will be able to sound off on policies and issues related to marijuana legalization.

The announcement came a day after state Assembly Democrats pledged to hold their own hearings on the issue this fall at locations to be determined.

The Cuomo administration's sessions will take place through out the state beginning Wednesday in Albany, and wrapping up Oct. 11 in Watertown.

"Community input is critical as we work to draft balanced and comprehensive legislation on a regulated marijuana program in New York," Cuomo said in a statement announcing the sessions.

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Earlier this month, Cuomo created a 20-person working group to draft legislation that would legalize the drug for recreational purposes in the state.  

Made up of administration officials, professors, and law enforcement officials, the panel was founded after a Department of Health issued a report in June which found the "positive effects" of legalizing marijuana in the state outweighed the "negative effects."  

The 74-page report estimated the state stood to gain as much as $678 million in additional tax revenue in the first year following legalization of the drug for recreational purposes.

Select members of the working group will be in attendance at the listening sessions, depending on the locations.

Venues for the sessions have been announced for Albany and Glens Falls, which will host the first meetings in the coming week.

For the rest of the cities, venues will be announced closer to the actual date, according to the state.

For more information, visit www.ny.gov/programs/assessing-regulated-marijuana-new-york.

Full list of listening sessions

Wednesday, September 5 - Albany

Thursday, September 6 - Glens Falls

Monday, September 17 - Bronx

Thursday, September 20 - Manhattan

Monday, September 24 - Queens

Tuesday, September 25 - Brooklyn

Wednesday, September 26 - Staten Island

Thursday, September 27 - Long Island

Monday, October 1 - Newburgh

Tuesday, October 2 - Binghamton

Wednesday, October 3 - Buffalo

Thursday, October 4 - Rochester

Tuesday, October 9 - Syracuse

Wednesday, October 10 - Utica

Thursday, October 11 - Watertown