420 in the 508

420 IN THE 508: ALL THE PEOPLE FROM NY WANT THE WEED FROM MA

ELLIOT MERCIER

The way things are around here compared to the rest of the country can be confusing to those who might consider coming to the pothole ridden, gridlock stricken, constant autumn drizzling state of Massachusetts. The differences between our state and others are numerous: dealing with the eccentric old laws still in place because no one wants to dust off the old books while understanding the new ones being put in place under the impact of federal shifts. Even with a change in law being established on a federal level, it doesn’t mean that all states and cities are going to adjust to that alteration in the same way. As noted in a previous article, Massachusetts was quick to adopt and regulate the sale of marijuana, approving licenses at a moderate rate and giving the industry a decent head start considering the biases and incomplete societal approval.

Other states on the East however were not as quick to fly straight into the marijuana business as good old Mass(tax)achusetts. Comparitively, New York has been slow on the uptake to a point where its citizens have actually started coming up to purchase marijuana from our dispensaries. Frustration is a common factor for New Yorkers when it comes to acquiring recreational marijuana over the state line, accusing their governors of sitting on their hands and doing little to assure the people outside of vague projections on regulation. Optimistically, dispensaries and new laws will be put into place by June, but several larger city folk said they wouldn’t hold their breath. Reluctant to demonize, the standards for marijuana in New York are different and more complicated due to the extensive damage done to impoverished and struggling urban sectors after several drug wars and flurries of violent crime. The laws will be stricter when they inevitably come to pass, which will incentivize many to still make the long trip north, but the concerns presented by New York lawmakers are justifiable. They’re just hoping to alleviate crime and make sure material doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Another appeal to buying from up north is the fact that our state has experience and knows how to deliver a quality product, at least in pot, not so much in pizza.

If you’re going to purchase some green anytime soon, take a look around and see how many cars in the lot sport New York plates, it might surprise you. A dispensary in Great Barrington has reportedly had two thirds of their customers be from the empire state on a regular basis. So things are different around here, and because of that, we might see a lot of minor tourism, even if they’re not here to see the sights and only around for something to light.