Cuomo Seeks to Avert Marijuana Trade War With New York’s Neighbors

(Bloomberg) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to work with neighbors to set policies for regulating and taxing recreational marijuana, seeking to keep residents from crossing state lines in pursuit of the best deal.

While the Democrat pushed to legalize pot this year, the plans were undermined by disputes over who would receive dispensary licenses and how the tax revenue would be spent.

Cuomo anticipates that he’ll have better luck next year. He said the rates of taxation and pricing, minimum buyers’ age, maximum volumes allowed and the forms in which the drug can be marketed are issues that should be coordinated with New Jersey, Connecticut and other nearby states.

“Because if New York’s system isn’t competitive, then they’ll drive to New Jersey where you could possibly get something that you couldn’t get here,” Cuomo said Tuesday during an interview on WNYC radio. “You don’t want people driving distances and then driving back.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Goldman in New York at hgoldman@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net, William Selway, Stacie Sherman

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