Way more New Yorkers imagine that consuming alcohol is a critical public well being downside in comparison with the minority who really feel the identical about marijuana, in line with a current survey performed by state officers.
There’s additionally majority help for the state’s adult-use hashish regulation, and a plurality of New Yorkers moreover favor having marijuana retailers open up of their communities.
The New York Division of Well being’s annual persistent illness survey that was launched late final month examined public opinion on a variety of points, together with marijuana and different drug coverage issues.
One of many takeaways that the division featured in an accompanying press release reveals the numerous divide in public notion of the general public well being risks of utilizing alcohol versus hashish.
By way of New York DOH.
Based on the survey, 77 p.c of respondents think about alcohol use a considerably or very critical public well being concern, whereas 46 p.c mentioned the identical about hashish consumption.
By way of New York DOH.
The discovering is basically in keeping with shifting public perceptions on alcohol and marijuana nationally, with fewer folks viewing hashish as a severely harmful substance as extra states transfer to legalize the plant for medical and leisure functions. Public training has additionally contributed to elevated consciousness of the harms of alcohol.
Additionally, polling has discovered that many individuals are utilizing marijuana as an alternative choice to alcohol, in addition to a litany of prescription medicines.
About one in 5 individuals who abstained from alcohol as a part of “Dry January” this 12 months mentioned they’re had been utilizing hashish as an alternative choice to assist get via the month, in line with one current survey.
“This knowledge will assist the Division know the place to greatest goal our efforts and what points matter most to folks residing in New York State,” New York Well being Commissioner James McDonald mentioned of the general outcomes of the state survey, which was performed from January 3-20, 2022.
In the meantime, the division’s new report additionally spoke to the recognition of marijuana legalization, with a 58 p.c saying they help the enactment of the regulation that’s actively being applied. Twenty-five p.c mentioned they opposed the reform, whereas 15 p.c took a impartial place.
By way of New York DOH.
As regulators work to approve hashish enterprise licensees and open extra retailers for grownup shoppers, the survey additional confirmed {that a} plurality of New Yorkers (48 p.c) favor having them situated of their communities, seemingly contradicting NIMBY-ist arguments which can be usually heard from legalization opponents.
Thirty-one p.c mentioned that they don’t need retailers of their communities, whereas 19 p.c mentioned they had been neither in favor or against having such companies working of their neighborhood.
By way of New York DOH.
Because it stands, nevertheless, comparatively few New Yorkers have entry to close by authorized adult-use dispensaries, as solely 4 retailers have opened their doorways as regulators search to prioritize social fairness licensing candidates who’ve been most impacted by the drug struggle. That mentioned, unlicensed hashish stores have proliferated throughout the state, particularly in New York Metropolis.
The state Workplace of Hashish Administration (OCM) has confronted criticism, together with from out-of-state officers just like the governor of Connecticut, for opening so few retailers in current months regardless of important demand within the populous state.
Regulators did announce final week that they’re doubling the variety of conditional adult-use marijuana licenses that may be accepted, from 150 to 300, after receiving suggestions from sure candidates that they’d have the ability to extra expeditiously open storefronts with out further help via a state program designed to assist eligible entities create bodily places.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) visited one of many 4 presently working hashish retailers late final month, although she didn’t purchase something, whilst she signaled openness to attempting marijuana sooner or later.
In December, Hochul individually unveiled a marijuana enterprise and product verification device, with plans to put up a QR code on licensed hashish retailers and a common image label for licensed hashish merchandise.
The governor additionally signed a invoice in late November aimed toward increasing the state’s hemp market by selling collaborative partnerships to determine extra alternatives to make the most of the crop and its derivatives for packaging, development and different functions.
New York lawmakers, in the meantime, not too long ago filed laws for this 12 months’s session to legalize sure psychedelics like psilocybin and ibogaine for adults 21 and older. Separate laws would additionally broadly decriminalize drug possession.
Photograph courtesy of WeedPornDaily.
The put up New Yorkers Say Marijuana Is Safer Than Alcohol, And They Need Native Dispensaries, State Survey Finds appeared first on Marijuana Second.