New York State

As New York State approaches $1 billion in sales from recreational marijuana, Smart Approaches to Marijuana has taken the opportunity to compile the top line data that indicates that this policy has failed to deliver as promised. 

Read SAM’s Statement on New York State’s misguided celebration here.

Public Health

  • Marijuana-related emergency department visits increased by 44% in New York in recent years. Marijuana-related emergency department visits increased by 147% in the mid-Hudson region, 52% in New York City, and 82% in Central New York. The Democrat & Chronicle reported that these marijuana-related visits contributed to “pandemic-era strains on hospitals.” 
  • Cannabis-related poisonings continue to be on the rise in New York since legalization.  
  • Between 2019 and 2022, the number of marijuana-related control calls involving children increased four-fold, according to Upstate Poison Control.  
  • There has been an increase in ER mentions in New York. 
  • Disciplinary data from the New York City school department reflects a 10 percent increase from 2019 in alcohol- and drug-related offenses in 2023.   
  • The prevalence of past-year marijuana use in New York increased from 14.86% in 2015–2016 to 22.19% in 2021–2022. The prevalence of past-month marijuana use, which is indicative of heavier use, increased from 9.68% in  2015–2016 to 16.06% in 2021–2022. 
  • Despite challenges with measuring THC impairment, Major Stephen Udice of the New York State Police said, “we are seeing an uptick in the number of people driving under the influence of drugs. Though the consumption of cannabis may be legal, it is not legal here nor anywhere in the country to drive while you are under the influence of drugs.” 

The Illicit Market 

  • In June 2024, the New York Times reported, “nearly 3,000 unlicensed cannabis stores are estimated to have opened across New York City since 2021.” This compared to 132 licensed dispensaries across the state and only 62 in New York City. 
  • Numerous attempts to crack down on the illicit market have stumbled. In October 2024, after the state shut down more than 1,000 unlicensed dispensaries in New York City through “Operation Padlock,” a Queens judge ruled that the action was unconstitutional. 
  • Politico reported, “Without enough licensed dispensaries to serve demand, thousands of unlicensed sellers stepped in, often flouting rules by popping up near schools and selling weed in colorful packaging.” The article quoted the owner of a licensed dispensary in New York City as saying, “People assume these unlicensed stores are mom-and-pop shops…Most of these stores are owned by conglomerates.” 

Racial Equity 

  • Despite Black people representing 23% of the state’s population, they accounted for 39% of treatment admissions for marijuana in 2022. 
  • Black New Yorkers had the highest rate of daily marijuana use, at 8.5% in 2021, compared to 5.8% of White New Yorkers. 
  • Since legalization, only 21 of the intended 150 social equity dispensaries have opened. 

Recent Headlines on marijuana’s failures from The New York Times

Students and teachers said in interviews that some classrooms were in disarray as more and younger students were smoking marijuana at school.

Inside the $32 billion industry transforming marijuana, its consumption and beliefs about its ability to heal.

The drug, legal in much of the country, is widely seen as nonaddictive and safe. For some users, these assumptions are dangerously wrong.

A growing number of marijuana users in the U.S. are experiencing severe health problems like these.