The results of a survey conducted by state officials suggest that New Yorkers are much more concerned about alcohol consumption being a serious public health problem than marijuana.
Also, a majority of New Yorkers back the state’s adult-use cannabis law while even more are in favor of having marijuana retailers in their neighborhoods. This is indicative of the changing sentiment toward cannabis consumption in New York.
So, how does cannabis compare to alcohol, the more mainstream, more utilized recreational drug?
The survey findings revealed that 77% of participants think alcohol use is a serious public health issue, while 46% were of the opinion that cannabis consumption should also be treated on the same level of seriousness.
Not surprisingly, another survey revealed that a great many are choosing cannabis instead of alcohol.
In fact, the study found that 20% of those participating in “Dry January” opted to use cannabis as a substitute for alcohol, allowing folks to partake in legal recreational substance usage without having to imbibe or smoke cigarettes.
The results of the finding reflect a transition in how the public view alcohol and marijuana usage. And perhaps that’s because more states are legalizing cannabis for medicinal and recreational reasons, leading to fewer people perceiving it as a highly hazardous substance.
“This data will help the Department know where to best target our efforts and what issues matter most to people living in New York State,” New York Health Commissioner James McDonald said of the overall results of the state survey, which was conducted from January 3-20, 2022.
Also. per the same study, a majority of New Yorkers were in favor of marijuana legalization. Fifty-eight percent showed support for the passing and enactment of this law while 25% opposed it and 15% remained neutral.
In addition, the survey concluded that 48% of New Yorkers were in support of having cannabis retailers in their local area while only 31% of people were against having retailers in their community and 19% had no opinion on the matter. Regulators are thus taking steps to make this a reality, by granting business licenses for cannabis and enabling more stores for adults to purchase from.
Surprisingly, only 31% of people were against having retailers in their community, while 19% had no opinion on the matter. This indicates that a majority of New Yorkers don’t mind having local stores nearby.
Despite the legalization of adult-use cannabis in New York, there are still relatively few dispensaries that offer access to products. So far, only four stores have opened their doors. Despite this, many unlicensed outlets selling cannabis have proliferated across New York State, especially NYC.
Last month, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) visited one of the four licensed cannabis retailers but she didn’t purchase any products. Although she did express her willingness to try marijuana in the future.
