there is no need to spend taxpayers money to fund a study of the possible impact of legalizing recreational marijuana in NY state. There’s is currently 9 states who have legalized cannabis. The economic benefits have helped states where marijuana has been legalized by funneling tax revenue from the sale of cannabis to things like education and infrastructure. "It's a great thing because the money was already being spent [when it was illegal;] it's just now being taxed," said Tick Segerblom, state senator from Nevada, which has reaped $25 million in tax revenue since recreational sales started in July. "And cops don't have to waste their time arresting users." CBD, or cannabidiol, is a product in the form or oil or candy that's used as a treatment for epilepsy, PTSD, Parkinson’s, seizures both for human and animal, Anxiety, cancer, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s, chronic pain, and more! The industry for CBD, derived from both hemp and marijuana, totaled $360 million last year, according to Sean Murphy, publisher of the Hemp Business Journal. He said it's expected to grow to $1.1 billion by 2020 and $1.8 billion by 2022. The game is about to get a lot bigger, with Canada planning to legalize in July and Eastern states in the U.S. catching the fever -- the state of Vermont just voted to lift prohibition in its state and New Jersey is expected to legalize recreational marijuana this year. LET’S BE THE 10th STATE TO LIFE THE PROHIBITION AND LEGALIZE CANNABIS!! It’s going to eliminate the need, and dependency on opiates as well as Overdose Death Rates!! Be progressive! Your predecessor Governor candidate Joel Giambra says legalized marijuana could bring $500 million to NY each year. Giambra drops GOP bid for NY governor to run as independent. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A former Erie County Executive, who now plans to run for governor, says marijuana tax revenues could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the state. Candidate Joel Giambra was originally aiming for the Republican nomination in this year's gubernatorial race, but later decided to run as an independent candidate. According to Giambra, based on research he commissioned, an excise tax of 13 percent on top of local and state taxes on legal marijuana would annually bring in $500 million for New York. In addition to that, Giambra says the money could finance state bonding of $12.2 billion in five years' time. "The money generated from legalizing marijuana would go a long way toward dealing with our state's crumbling roads and bridges and help with the equally daunting challenge of fixing the broken New York City metropolitan transit system," Giambra said. "Legalizing the adult use of marijuana is a cornerstone of my campaign for governor. I pledge that if I win election, it will be one of my major priorities because of the immediate economic benefits it can produce." The candidate says that every $1 billion dollars spent on infrastructure in the state will create 13,000 jobs. Along with cannabis regulation, Giambra says he would get rid of non-violent marijuana convictions, and make sure people who are incarcerated due of those laws are released. "This is a plan to rebuild New York without continuing to raise taxes," said Giambra. "There's another billion dollars in taxes and fees already projected in the Albany pipeline this year to deal with a deficit estimated of at least $4.4 billion. I think the citizens have had enough. Let's take marijuana off the black market, like other states have, and begin to phase in that new revenue stream and put that money to work for the people of New York." Joel Giambra will no longer seek "This is a plan to rebuild New York without continuing to raise taxes," said Giambra. "There's another billion dollars in taxes and fees already projected in the Albany pipeline this year to deal with a deficit estimated of at least $4.4 billion. I think the citizens have had enough. Let's take marijuana off the black market, like other states have, and begin to phase in that new revenue stream and put that money to work for the people of New York. All states need to get on board! Save us from PHARMA garbage! Create jobs! End suffering from pain and other physical ailments!