Cities, towns could opt-out under Andrew Cuomo’s New York marijuana plan

Cities and towns in New York would still be able to ban marijuana sales under Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s soon-to-be-released plan to legalize the drug statewide.

Cuomo, a Democrat, is expected to unveil his full recreational marijuana proposal Tuesday as part of his budget plan and State of the State address, which is set for 2 p.m.

But he gave a preview during a radio interview Monday, where he revealed two things:

• His plan would prohibit the sale of marijuana to those under the age of 21.
• Local governments would be able to opt-out of legalizing marijuana sales.

“For me, it’s about the regulation and making sure that we protect young people — that’s why we set an age of 21 years old,” Cuomo said on WAMC-FM (90.3) in Albany.

“We gave local governments the ability to opt out if they want, so they could do that.”

Both of those provisions were included in a prior bill sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, and Senate Finance Chair Liz Krueger, D-Manhattan, whose legislation is believed to provide the base for Cuomo’s proposal. [Read more at Democrat & Chronicle]