If there was still any doubt in anyone’s mind about marijuana legalization in New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to make it official next week by announcing a detailed plan for legal adult-use recreational weed.Cuomo has failed twice before to win passage of cannabis reform, but this year he has support from a veto-proof Democratic supermajority in the state legislature. Still, Cuomo will need buy-in from swing suburban districts, which in the past have voiced concerns about impaired driving and children consuming pot. The proposal likely calls for setting aside marijuana tax revenue to encourage minority participation in the industry as well as for public health. Cuomo has said he favors legalization to boost state tax revenues to help plug the state’s $15 billion budget gap—although even supporters acknowledge that such money would not be available for many years.
Meanwhile, New Jersey is grappling with how to implement its new marijuana legalization law—in particular, whether to arrest or simply fine underage users. Recognizing the drug’s harmful effects on young people, some say law enforcement should not be entirely powerless to confiscate weed in order to discourage kids from using it, and instead of incarceration suggest a civil penalty with a small fine or community service.
And finally, with more states legalizing pot and sales booming during the pandemic, Ad Week believes that 2021 will usher in the “golden age” of cannabis marketing. This will include sophisticated packaging and branding that mimics mainstream (but hip) consumer goods and steers clear of old-style weed jargon and psychedelic colors. To succeed in this competitive market, products must be Instagrammable and worthy of “bringing to a dinner party,” says one marketer.