Consensus Strategies with CEO Patrick Fox

Consensus Strategies with CEO Patrick Fox today on Blunt Business only on Cannabis Radio. While 61% of New York State residents support the legalization of adult-use recreational marijuana sales, more than half (52%) of those living in New York City would oppose its sale in their neighborhood. This disparity between general support and willingness to actually live near one is a significant problem when communities decide where, if anywhere, they want to allow marijuana retail sales. With 61% of New York state residents believing a community should have the right to "opt-out" and ban marijuana sales in their community altogether, the battle to site facilities is likely to require extensive community outreach and education efforts. This is based on a New York state survey conducted by Consensus Strategies on March 5-7, 2021. Here to delve more deeply into the findings is the CEO of Consensus Strategies, Patrick Fox. The New York State Legislature is on the precipice of passing a measure legalizing adult-use recreational marijuana. Lawmakers are likely to reach a cannabis consensus and act on a stand-alone bill as soon they address lingering concerns about traffic stops and safety. Local zoning and planning authorities will have the ability to decide where retail and cultivation facilities will be able to locate within their communities. They can choose to allow them in higher visibility general retail zones treating them like a liquor store. They can relegate them to more obscure, lower profile areas like an industrial park and restrict signage and visibility or they can ban the use in their community completely. The majority of New Yorkers (53%) believe that marijuana retail should keep a low profile and locate outside of high visibility retail areas. Gaining support for cultivation facilities where marijuana is grown and processed will be even more challenging with 62% of those over 50 opposed to cultivation facilities in their neighborhood. 53% of Black/African-Americans and 61% of Hispanic/Latinos statewide oppose cultivation in their communities. We cover all this and more on Consensus Strategies with CEO Patrick Fox today on Blunt Business only on Cannabis Radio.