CITY OF NEWBURGH - New York’s journey towards marijuana legalization will pass through the City of Newburgh on Monday.

SUNY Orange’s Kaplan Hall will host a public forum at 6 p.m. as the state’s Regulated Marijuana Workgroup continues holding a series of “listening sessions” on a regulated marijuana market. It is expected that the state Senate and Assembly will take up legislation at next year’s session.

A study released in July concluded that legalization could bring a number of health and social benefits, including serving as a substitute for the addictive painkillers that have been blamed for historic increases in opioid addiction and overdoses, and reducing racial disparities in possession arrests.

"Community input is critical as we work to draft balanced and comprehensive legislation on a regulated marijuana program in New York," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “With these listening sessions we are taking another important step to develop a model program for New York.

SUNY Orange’s Newburgh campus is located at 1 Washington Center.