S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
977
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STECK, K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Economic Development
AN ACT to amend the cannabis law, in relation to limiting the potency of
cannabis products
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 125 of the cannabis law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 13 to read as follows:
13. (A) NO PERSON SHALL CULTIVATE, PROCESS, DISTRIBUTE FOR SALE OR
SELL AT WHOLESALE OR RETAIL OR DELIVER TO CONSUMERS:
(I) ANY CANNABIS FLOWER WHICH HAS A CONCENTRATION OF MORE THAN FIFTEEN
PERCENT DELTA-9 TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL; OR
(II) ANY CANNABIS, CANNABIS PRODUCT, MEDICAL CANNABIS OR CANNABINOID
HEMP OR HEMP EXTRACT PRODUCT WHICH HAS A CONCENTRATION OF MORE THAN
TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT DELTA-9 TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL.
(B) ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY VIOLATES THIS SUBDIVISION IS GUILTY OF A
CLASS B MISDEMEANOR.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03102-01-5
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NO NO NO NO NO! How about you spend your time limiting the wealthy dodging taxes, or how much insurance companies can charge us for sub-par service instead of spending your time ruining cannabis for us??? How about that?? I AM SO TIRED.
THC limitations is not effective cannabis legislation. Limiting the THCA levels of raw cannabis flower, as well as THC levels of other cannabis derivatives, will cause both State revenue loss, and a rise in crime. This is because, if the law is enacted, users in New York, dissatisfied with the overall effects that 15% THC(A) provides, will seek alternatives, either from neighboring states with recreational marijuana laws which don't set limits, or from illegal sources in New York, promising higher THC(A) leveled cannabis. This particular piece of legal cannabis proposed legislation should cost the State money, in declined tax revenue and added law enforcement appropriations. It is NOT compliant with traditional American political conservatism, from a neo-liberal point of view. Under a neo-liberal lense, government ought not deprive the public of what it desires, so long as no actual (not spiritual or emotional) harm can be directly (not inferentially) inflicted on others. Neo-liberal, present-day American political conservatives would not limit THC(A) content, just as they would not limit the percentages of alcohol in spirits. By analogy, to limit THC(A) content is akin to legislating that only 3.2 beer can be sold in New York. This legislation appears to seek appeasement of a very small minority of persons who fancy themselves as "social conservative." They aren't. They are prohibitionists. But unlike Prohibition of the 1920s, police cannot discern THC(A) levels by sight, feel, or smell. The limitation cannot be enforced. Appeasement to a small minority is never good governance.