It is imperative that New York gets marijuana legalization right.  That means crafting it with a single goal - to repair the damage marijuana prohibition and biased policing has inflicted on those MOST HARMED, the majority of whom are Black individuals, families, and communities.  The objectives should prioritize automatic expungement & release, cessation of current criminalization practices, business development, workforce development, and community development, creating a facility for wealth attainment and self-sustaining community economic growth.

Specific provisions in both versions of the proposed legislation will perpetuate the existing under-representation of Black New Yorkers in economic attainment.  Black people consistently receive little or no benefit from M/WBE initiatives or Affirmative Action which have been diluted to include groups who were not involved in our Civil Rights struggle.  Women, Minorities, Disabled Vets, and Native Americans were not harmed as groups.  Restorative Justice licenses must be reserved for those MOST HARMED, no matter their race, gender, military, or sexual status, ensuring over 60% participation by the largest population of victims, Black people, and no opening for a court challenge.

Not one of the Social Equity programs in the United States has succeeded in meeting their stated goals.  The legislation must be revised to meet the goal of providing Economic Restorative Justice to only those MOST HARMED.  Every opportunity should be taken to develop legislation that provides a business advantage for the MOST HARMED.