Cuomo Says NY Could Raise $300 Million From Marijuana

It looks like recreational marijuana will soon be a thing in New York State. Gov. Cuomo just rolled out his budget and an extra 300 million is budgeted for this year thanks to recreational marijuana.

New York could "raise about $300 million in revenue" annually from recreational marijuana, according to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who will propose a regulatory framework in his budget.

Colorado, which has slightly more than a quarter of New York's population and began allowing recreational use in 2014, collected about $267 million in taxes and fees from its medical and retail marijuana businesses in 2017.

"It's not just about the money," Cuomo added. "For me, it's about the regulation."

At this point, it looks like the question isn't whether New York State will legalize recreational marijuana it is when. Also, what will the government spend this extra 300 million dollar on? Will government employees get raises, and last but not least what about the people who have drug-related offenses on their record due to marijuana would they be granted clemency?