The number of Americans who are in favor of legalizing marijuana continues to increase. A new Pew Research Survey says 6 out of 10 Americans now support the measure. Buzz60
Operators in the growing legal marijuana market reacted Thursday with concern to a move by the Trump administration to lift an Obama-era policy on the enforcement of federal pot laws in states where the drug is legal. (Jan. 4) AP
The U.S. Department of Justice decision to rescind Obama-era guidance on marijuana enforcement elicited furious statements from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Time
Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinds an Obama-era policy that allowed legal marijuana to flourish in states across the country. Sessions says federal prosecutors should decide on their own whether to devote resources to marijuana cases. (Jan. 4) AP
Long lines greeted the opening of legal marijuana retail stores in Southern California. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
Marijuana legalization arrived Monday in California with lots of hoopla, but only a handful of cities will initially have retail outlets ready to sell recreational pot. (Jan. 1) AP
California has now joined a list of other states and the District of Columbia, where so-called recreational marijuana is now permitted. With the start of 2018 comes the legalization of pot for those 21 and older in California. (Jan. 1) AP
California begins legal recreational marijuana sales in 2018 and along with that, there are a host of questions about exactly how the system will work and the rules people need to follow. Wochit
California on Thursday issued its first batch of business licenses for the state’s upcoming legal marijuana market, setting the stage for sales to begin in January. Time
Rebel Coast Winery will soon be rolling out an alcohol free, marijuana infused wine. Buzz60
With California set to become the largest legal pot economy in the country next year, small operators are becoming increasingly worried legalization will bring investment banks and corporate-sized interests that will push them out of the market. (Dec. 20) AP
Survey: Majority of Americans support legalization of pot
Pot purveyors wary of plan to enforce fed law
Lawmakers furious over Justice Department decision on marijuana
AG Sessions rescinds Obama-era marijuana policy
Long lines at SoCal pot stores
Pot shops ring in 2018, ring up legal sales
New year brings broad pot legalization to Calif.
Here’s what Calif.'s legalization of marijuana means for consumers
Calif. gears up for recreational pot sales
Marijuana infused wine soon to be available in California
Companies fight for piece of Calif. pot industry
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York will study whether it's plausible to legalize marijuana for recreational use as neighboring states move ahead with it, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday.
Cuomo called on lawmakers to approve funding for a feasibility study as part of his annual state budget address, in which he laid out his spending proposal for the coming year.
The study would examine the effect legalization in Massachusetts, Vermont and possibly New Jersey would have on New York and what types of potential roadblocks could exist if the state were to relax its marijuana laws, particularly as the Trump administration has given prosecutors more leeway to prosecute federal-level marijuana laws.
Cuomo's announcement comes after at least nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of marijuana for recreational use.
More: Illinois says it won't stop sick girl from using medical marijuana at school
Previously: Vermont's governor indicates he'll sign pot legalization bill headed to his desk
That includes two of New York's neighboring states: Massachusetts, whose voters approved legalized pot in 2016, and Vermont, where lawmakers voted in favor of it earlier this month.
Incoming New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has also said he supports legalizing recreational marijuana.
New York's study would be led by the state Department of Health, which would work with State Police and other state agencies to examine the issue, Cuomo said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing a study to look at the pros and cons of legalizing recreational marijuana in New York. Cuomo's proposal was part of his state budget address on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Jon Campbell / Albany Bureau
"This is an important topic, it is a hotly debated topic — pardon the pun — and it would be nice to have some facts in the middle of the debate once in a while," Cuomo said during his 40-minute address.
New York is one of 29 states to allow marijuana use for medical purposes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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But New York's program is one of the most restrictive in the country. The drug is not permitted in smokable forms, with certified patients instead able to purchase items such as creams, oils and pills.
Cuomo has long expressed caution over relaxing the state's recreational marijuana laws, and many of the restrictions in the medical-marijuana program were insisted on by him.
The Vermont Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill that would allow recreational use of marijuana, putting Vermont on course to become the first state to legalize pot by an act of the Legislature rather than through a citizen referendum. (Jan 10) AP
As of Jan. 9, there were 40,934 certified patients in New York's medical-marijuana program, according to the state Department of Health.
Robert Mujica, Cuomo's budget director, said neighboring states' moving ahead with regulated marijuana programs spurred the need for the new study.
More: How will legalizing marijuana impact police work?
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"I don't know how long it will take," Mujica said. "We just announced it. But again, once the states around you start to regulate an activity or allow it, there is leakage, there are criminal justice impacts, there are economic impacts, and so we want to see what goes on."
The study was cheered by one of the marijuana companies active in New York's medical program.
“Governor Cuomo’s commission to legalize marijuana could be a game-changer that puts New York at the center of a national movement gaining momentum by the day," Hillary Peckham, chief operating officer of Etain Health Inc., said in a statement.
Follow Jon Campbell on Twitter: @JonCampbellGAN