Monday, June 16, 2014

Does Nicole Malliotakis’ shift to support for medical marijuana mean that State Senator Marty Golden is going to give up the fight too ?

Golden’s long opposition to liberalizing the drug laws appears to be wavering   —   Will Nicole’s switch tip Marty at last


According to a report in the Brooklyn Eagle, “As a sign of the growing support for legalized medical marijuana, a Brooklyn lawmaker who had previously been opposed to the idea suddenly announced that she is switching sides. ***  Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-C-Bay Ridge-Staten Island) has become the first Republican elected official in New York City to support legalizing pot for medical purposes. ***  Malliotakis, who has consistently voted against bills calling for medical marijuana to be legalized, announced her change of heart on Monday. The State Assembly has already approved a medical marijuana bill sponsored by Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Chelsea-Murray Hill), chairman of the Health Committee. The measure is now in the State Senate, where supporters, including state Sen. Diane Savino (D-Coney Island-Bensonhurst-Staten Island), the bill’s sponsor in that chamber, are racing against the clock to secure passage before the legislative session ends on June 19....” ( See “Malliotakis changes position on legalizing medical marijuana” by Paula Katinas, 6/10/14,  Brooklyn Daily Eagle/ brooklyneagle.com
[http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/malliotakis-changes-position-legalizing-medical-marijuana-2014-06-10-160000]).

This raises the question of State Senator Martin Golden’s once-strong opposition to the legalization of pot. Although a long-time law and order supporter of the “War on Drugs,” Marty Golden has been a reliable opponent of any type of liberalization of the drug laws. However recently, Golden’s strong spine against this creep of permissiveness has begun to waver.

Marty Golden now has what for him is a nuanced position on the legalization of medical marijuana (I’ll bet none of you ever expected me to say that Marty Golden had a nuanced position on anything). In May the State Senator for Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park and other neighborhoods said he believed medical marijuana would be legal at some time in New York, but he added,  “I don’t believe it should be now.” He then said his inclination would be to support medical marijuana when the Food and Drug Administration approved it at the federal level ( See “Check Out This Revealing Exchange Between Senators Savino, Golden On Medical Marijuana” by Ned Berke, 5/22/14,  Sheepshead Bites [http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2014/05/check-revealing-exchange-senators-savino-golden-medical-marijuana/]; same coverage as Bensonhurst Bean [http://www.bensonhurstbean.com/2014/05/savino-golden-marijuana/]).

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Make it legal and it loses all its coolness. Screw that.

Anonymous said...

Both Nicole Malliotakis and Diane Savino are now behind the medical marijuana bill and Golden is left like the "Cheese stands alone". This is another case of Marty Golden being out of step with the women in his political world. This has happened over and over again.

Anonymous said...

Golden is a Kings Republican and Kings Conservative dinosaur. Who cares what he does or says about anything. If the Democratic leadership in Brooklyn really decides to take him out, it's all over for him.

Golden has already had his fall and all the Kings Republicans and all the Kings Conservatives and all of the old pro-Golden crowd from the 3rd and 5th Avenue and Southwest Brooklyn business folks and all the volunteer fire and ambulances hucksters don't add up to enough to beat the Democratic voters in Golden's district, with new young Democrats coming in every day, if all the Democratic folks unite against him.

Anonymous said...

Malliotakis flipped because it's an election year. She seems to have coasted for a few years not accomplishing much.

I doubt Golden will switch his vote.

Anonymous said...

Prediction: Marty & Nicole face off in a primary for Congress.
However, I'm not so sure Grimm loses this.

Galewyn Massey said...

Except for the Grimm part, it looks like too much medical marijuana for you, already.... Funny how that stuff works...

Anonymous said...

All politics is local. Whenever a Brooklyn candidate runs for Cong seat it turns into SI v Brooklyn.
Does anyone think Recchia has more going for him than Albanese?

Galewyn Massey said...

YES !!!!

You are looking at only one part of the equation.

Domenic Recchia is running against a very damaged incumbent in Michael Grimm, whose connections to Staten Island are only slightly stronger than Recchia's. Also Mike Grimm doesn't bring as much strength to a Staten Island candidacy as would somebody with a name like "Molinari"....

Galewyn Massey said...

GOP NYS Senators agree to pass "compromise" medical cannabis bill favored by Governor Cuomo.

Is a Republican shared majority in the NYS Senate worth maintaining ?

What is the point ?

Galewyn Massey said...

UPDATE: THE “BREAK IN THE CLOUDS, BUT GIMME A BREAK” EDITION

“ALBANY — The New York Senate passed a bill legalizing access to medical marijuana on Friday, a day after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders announced the agreement on a seven-year pilot program to provide the drug to sick New Yorkers. *** The bill passed 49 to 10....” (See “New York Senate Passes Bill on Medical Marijuana” by Jess McKinley, 6/20/14, NY Times [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/21/nyregion/new-york-senate-passes-bill-on-medical-marijuana.html?_r=0]).

Hmmmm ?

Galewyn Massey said...

UPDATE: THE “GOLDEN REVERSAL” EDITION

WITHOUT APOLOGY OR EXPLANATION, STATE SENATOR GOLDEN VOTED FOR A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL WHEN LESS THAN A WEEK AGO HE INDICATED THAT HE WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY BILL UNTIL THE FEDS STOPPED THEIR OPPOSITION — THAT HASN’T HAPPENED

GOLDEN DIDN’T SUPPORT BILL UNTIL GOVERNOR CUOMO MADE HIS DEAL WITH DEAN SKELOS

Here is what Golden did say:
“Albany – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) has issued the following statement regarding his vote to support Senate Bill 7923 which authorizes medical marijuana in New York State, prohibiting the smoking form, for treatment of certain serious illnesses and diseases. *** ‘This afternoon, I voted to support comprehensive legislation that will provide an option to medical professionals to offer medical marijuana to New York’s most seriously ill, those battling Cancer, HIV/Aids, Multiple Sclerosis, and Epilepsy. This legislation encompasses strong safe guards against the misuse of marijuana, while making a form available through prescriptions from specialized doctors. *** It is my hope and belief that the intention of this bill, which is to aid those battling the most debilitating diseases, will be achieved.’... ” ( See “SENATOR GOLDEN STATEMENT ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION” Posted by Martin J. Golden. 6/20/14, Web page of State Senator Martin J. Golden [http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senator-golden-statement-medical-marijuana-legislation]).


Interestingly, several GOP State Senators wouldn’t vote for the bill, however Golden went out of his way to vote for it. The political wheeling and dealing behind this bill must be very, very interesting.