New York’s legalized-pot program is on a train to nowhere — apparently derailed because Gov. Andrew Cuomo is fuming over his stalled plans to overhaul leadership at the MTA. Cuomo and the state Legislature approved the legalized sale of weed in New York in March, but the governor has since become a real buzzkill on the issue, critics say. He has yet to nominate an executive director for his new Office of Cannabis Management or name appointees to the Cannabis Control Board, even though the Marijuana Taxation and Regulation Act was passed months ago, they say. His rep, asked by The Post on Sunday about the lack of movement, put the onus on the state Senate — while noting the pols’ failure to pass Cuomo’s proposed MTA legislation. “We agree there’s a lot of unfinished business with the Senate, and we’re ready to submit our nominations, and we hope they reconvene and act on these and our MTA legislation and nominations,” Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said. Mike Murphy, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins (D-Yonkers), fired back, “I don’t know what connection the administration is making between two separate issues, but it’s disturbing.” The MTA is currently headed by a chairman/CEO, but the Democratic governor wants to split the leadership into two separate positions, a chairman and a chief executive. The Democratic-controlled Senate blocked Cuomo’s 11th-hour proposal calling for the split before adjourning last month. State Sen. Diane Savino, a Staten Island Democrat, said both sides could be in for a long wait.
July, New York Post, 07/24/2021 20:00:00
Open article: https://nypost.com/2021/07/25/lawmakers-question-cuomo-as-he-delays-weed-program/