There is both good and bad news for supporters of retail cannabis legalization as Gov. Andrew Cuomo today is expected to announce renewed plans to legalize marijuana in New York.
The move to broadly do so has reached its largest amount of support in a Siena College poll.
The voter survey released Tuesday morning found voters statewide support legalizing by a 20 percentage-point margin, 58 percent to 38 percent.
But even while large percentages of independent and moderate voters support legalizing cannabis, suburban voters remain split, 44 percent in support, 48 percent oppose.
Suburban support for the move, especially in the state Legislature, is key. Long Island and Westchester lawmakers last year raised concerns with marijuana legalization, pointing to traffic safety issues and whether kids could access cannabis products.
Ultimately, lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on a broad-based legalization plan for retail cannabis. Many of the same questions surrounding taxation, where revenue should go, vehicle safety issues and who should benefit from cannabis revenue remain for some lawmakers.
Still, Cuomo has said he wants to work with neighboring states on a regional cannabis approach to create a balanced tax plan that doesn't favor a single state.
At the same time, public health concerns surrounding vaping usage could also be a factor in the discussions.