Go slow on legal cannabis

New York’s path toward the legalization of recreational marijuana is the right one to take. That was made clearer by a hearing last week at the Albany Capital Center.

One speaker after another backed legalization (two people stood to oppose it), many making strong cases for what is increasingly obvious: The benefits of the move outweigh the negatives.

So at this point, with the state health bureaucracy supporting it and states around us racing toward legalization, legal marijuana seems inevitable in New York. The challenge is for the state to do it right.

The Albany hearing was one of 15 “listening sessions” being held around New York as state officials gather input into the planned development of a stateregulated marijuana program.

It’s remarkable, really, that we are at this point. As recently as last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo was referring to marijuana as a “gateway drug.” But perhaps because he’s been pushed on the issue by Democratic challenger Cynthia Nixon, or because of the action in neighboring states, Mr. Cuomo has had an

apparent change of heart.

Still, it remains to be seen how aggressively the governor will push for legalization, assuming he’s re-elected in November. And we will see whether he can prevent the state from repeating the mistakes made with the legalization of medical marijuana, which many observers blame on Mr. Cuomo.

At Wednesday’s hearing, speakers rightly noted that New York’s approach to medical marijuana was too restrictive and conservative — a result of the governor’s political skittishness, some say. The resulting program is not as useful as it should be. Too many patients are excluded by burdensome state rules, and the medicine’s cost is prohibitive for many of the patients who do qualify.

The good news is that the legalization of recreational marijuana, if done correctly, will allow the state to correct

some of the mistakes made with medical marijuana. If nothing else, broader legalization should cut prices and increase access by creating more legal producers and advancing competition. That is for the good.

But the state needs to be deliberate as it proceeds. Important questions remain.

How will New York keep the drug from adolescents? What policies will guide law enforcement confronted by those who will drive under the influence of marijuana? Should New Yorkers be allowed to grow the drug at home? How will taxes be structured?

And what will the tax revenue be used for? Will it be lost to the general fund? Or will the money be targeted toward some of the potential negative consequences of legal marijuana use?

The questions aren’t insurmountable. Indeed, they’re similar to those New York deals with in regulating alcohol. And the state has the chance to study the results where recreational marijuana already is legal — nine states and the District of Columbia.

The path toward recreational legalization is one New York should walk, rather than run. Hurrying only increases the chance to stumble.