Pot in Washington.jpg

While Island lawmakers are opposed, the bill would make New York the most populous state in the nation to legalize marijuana.

(Associated Press Photo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The buzz is growing to legalize pot for recreational use in New York state.

But Staten Island lawmakers are saying don't reach for the rolling papers yet, even as an informal SILive.com poll shows nearly 80 percent of Islanders favor legalization.

State Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) has introduced legislation to legalize marijuana for recreational use in New York, saying the state could then tax the crop and create a new source of revenue.

Ms. Krueger said that legalization would also save money in criminal justice and correctional costs.

But while Assembly Health Committee chair Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) has signed on, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office called the bill a non-starter

There is also opposition among Island lawmakers.

"I very strongly oppose this measure," said state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island), a former city prosecutor. "We could probably make money selling heroin too. Everything ought not be for sale, particularly the well-being of our children."

If passed, the bill would make New York the most populous state in the nation to regulate and tax pot.

But Lanza said he believes pot can "open the door" to harder drugs like cocaine.

"It's something we shouldn't be talking about lightly," he said. "Drugs are destroying people's lives."

Washington and Colorado have legalized pot for personal use. Twenty states and the District of Columbia have legalized pot for medicinal purposes.

State Sen. Diane Savino said New York is "years away" from legalizing pot for recreational use.

"I wouldn't hold my breath," she said. "New York is progressive on many things, but drug policy is not one of them."

Ms. Savino is pushing a bill to legalize marijuana for medical use, and said she doesn't want to see the debate over recreational use "eclipse" that.

"There is much stronger support for medical marijuana," she said.

Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-North Shore) agreed.

"We should be focusing on medical marijuana first and foremost," he said, "then jump into this debate. I think it muddies the merits of medical marijuana."

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) said talk of legalizing recreational marijuana was "premature."

"I'm not inclined to support for recreational use," she said. "We can't even come to consensus on medical marijuana."

Ms. Malliotakis has voted against legalizing medical marijuana twice.

Assemblyman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) said he opposes legalization.

"I'm happy to hear arguments, but I'm against it," he said. "We have a serious drug problem on Staten Island. I think we should make it less easy for people to get drugs."

Assemblyman Michael Cusick (D-Mid-Island) did not return calls seeking comment.

Eighty-one percent of those who responded to an SILive.com poll said that the state should legalize marijuana for recreational use. Nineteen percent were opposed.

Many who posted comments on SILive.com voiced support.

"There are hundreds of ways to screw up your life... alcohol and cigarettes are at the top of the list," wrote Moose. "Marijuana is a safer alternative, and quite frankly, a financial cash cow for the state of New York."

Greatkills wrote, "I do not smoke marijuana. I do not have the energy to do so. However, I witness the effects of it being illegal: Jails full of low level offenders, sometimes arrested for the first time because of possession - marked for life."

But others weren't so sure.

Addressing other possible drawbacks, Swim wrote, "Taxing pot will create a black market. Why add to the drunk and medicated people driving the roads with people who are stoned."

Wrote Franico, "How many innocent deaths are because of dwi or dui?"