Republicans Seek Ban on Public Marijuana Use in New York Due to Strong Smell Concerns
Two Republicans in the state Legislature, State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Michael Novakhov, are proposing a ban on smoking and consuming marijuana in public places throughout New York state. They believe that the strong smell of weed outdoors is becoming a problem, and they want local governments to be able to create laws that prohibit public marijuana use. The proposed measure also includes fines of up to $125 for those caught consuming marijuana in public.
According to Borrello, the regular smell of marijuana on sidewalks and public spaces is bothering residents, including children. He thinks that people shouldn't be exposed to the effects of marijuana smoke or its smell, especially kids. Even though marijuana was legalized in New York in 2021, there are already restrictions on smoking in public places due to the Clean Air Act and local bans on smoking.
However, Borrello argues that marijuana use in public is different from tobacco use, mainly because marijuana contains THC, a potent psychoactive substance that can cause a "high" and lead to impaired cognitive and motor abilities, similar to alcohol. He believes that individuals under the influence of marijuana in public places could be a potential hazard to themselves and others. Therefore, he thinks that similar restrictions on public consumption should apply to both alcohol and marijuana.
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