Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — New York State Senator George Borrello has introduced new legislation to ban the use of cannabis in public places.
He proposed the bill earlier this month, after reportedly receiving several complaints from constituents who are worried about being exposed to marijuana smoke.
Current legislation makes it legal to smoke cannabis any place tobacco is allowed.
If the bill were to become law, there would be a $125 fine for any violations.
We caught up with Sen. Jeremy Cooney at a cannabis career summit being held in Rochester Saturday. He said Borello’s bill is a step in the wrong direction.
“I think it’s absolutely regressive,” Cooney claimed. “It’s kind of going away from the spirit that the legalization legislation had in the first place. We’re not here to recriminalize, especially recriminalize populations that we know were disproportionately impacted by the failed war on drugs.”
The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
There’s also a state assembly version of the bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Novakhov. That bill has advanced to the committee stage as well.
H/T: 13wham.com
