Tag Archives: New York

Drug Policy, Informational, Other States

New Yorkers Oppose Marijuana Legalization; Minorities Overwhelmingly So

According to the pro-marijuana lobby the U.S. is on the fast track to legalization nationwide. A new study refutes this claim outright, citing evidence from African-American and Latino New York registered voters. Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and their New York Affiliate, SAM-NY, today released the results of a Emerson College poll conducted to gauge the public opinion of marijuana policy. The results are telling and marijuana legalization is hitting a roadblock:

  • 76 percent of respondents did not support marijuana advertising
  • 73 percent did not support public use of marijuana
  • 58 percent did not support marijuana stores in their neighborhoods
  • Half of New Yorkers are against marijuana candies, gummies, cookies and other edibles
  • Minority communities overwhelmingly opposed the full-scale legalization. Only 22 percent of Latinos and 24 percent of African Americans support legalization

“New Yorkers do not support pot legalization. This poll shows us that elected officials need to slow down,” said Dr. Kevin Sabet, founder and president of SAM Action. “This poll shows similar results to our poll of New York voters in December — legalization is far from a slam dunk. One of the crucial takeaways from this is that minority communities are firmly opposed to legalization. And they should be — pot arrests for African American and Latino youth have gone up since legalization in Colorado. Pot shops are always predominately in lower income neighborhoods.”

To read the full poll — methodology, results, demographics, survey instrument — click here. And check out the full press release here: more-than-half…-college-poll

California, Oregon

Hash Oil Explosions Kill, Harm Neighbors

A hash oil explosion in North Portland on July 24, killed two men, annihilated a home and caused significant danger to the home next door.  While the man next door explained that his wife was shook up and his children at day camp, the family cat died in the fire.  The neighbor is lucky to be alive considering the extent of this explosion.

People use marijuana to make butane hash oil labs, also called honey oil.  These are the dangerous drug labs that are blowing up people and homes, particularly in California and in the West.

By April, 2015, the California Alliance of Drug-Endangered Children had tracked 41 marijuana lab deaths in that state between 2011 and 2015.   It’s not clear how many have happened since that time. Continue reading Hash Oil Explosions Kill, Harm Neighbors →

California, Child Endangerment, Medical Marijuana

SB 151 Must Include Medical Marihuana

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State Senator Hernandez is carrying a bill (SB 151) that will raise the age from 18 – 21 for age to purchase tobacco cigarettes.  This is good, of course, but, interestingly, the bill does not include medical marijuana—-which is also smoked.

How can our legislatures say to kids they can’t smoke tobacco, but it’s ok if they smoke medical marihuana?  New York is the most recent state to pass medical marijuana and it excludes smoking smoking marijuana for any age.  Why does California Continue reading SB 151 Must Include Medical Marihuana →