A group of anti-cannabis coalitions led by the Cannabis Impact Prevention Coalition and Cannabis Industry Victims Seeking Justice, has filed a lawsuit this week in the state Supreme Court challenging New York’s legalization of marijuana.
The lawsuit accuses the state’s cannabis industry of paralleling fraudulent claims made by tobacco companies and asserts that marijuana consumption, sale, and possession continue to be illegal under federal law.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue that the New York Legislature overstepped its bounds when it passed the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act in 2021.
The legislation legalized marijuana for adults, laying groundwork for an industry inclusive of growers, processors, and licensed shops.
The lawsuit maintains that claims about marijuana’s medicinal benefits are unfounded and potentially dangerous. They express concerns that ‘medical’ use of marijuana may lead to addiction, mental impairment, lung damage when smoked, and could pose risks for unborn children if used during pregnancy.
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