New York State's number 2 cash crop is marijuana. An overwhelming majority of New Yorkers support it's legalization.

By legalizing marijuana in New York State we can cut over $1 billion annually from our budget dedicated to criminal marijuana law enforcement. At a time of economic hardship this makes fiscal sense. It also makes moral sense when 10% of all arrests made in our state are related to non-violent possession, cultivation or sale of marijuana.

By taxing marijuana we can bring in revenues that would allow us to invest in education, health care and other vital programs that we at this time simply can't afford.

By regulating marijuana we can ensure that we aren't supporting gangs and drug cartels that currently control the global marijuana market. We would weaken these violent offenders of human rights.

By legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana we can ensure that New York's debt will be dramatically lowered and potentially eliminated over time. More, importantly however, we as New Yorkers will see that we have a legislative system that works. A system that is truly for the people and by the people.