Watch out New Jersey. Looks like New York is taking a big step toward legalizing weed

Lawmakers in New York have been discussing recreational legalization for awhile even though Gov. Cuomo has expressed he did not think the state was ready for it. When pressed by cannabis advocates earlier this year Cuomo decided it best to put together a commission to study the pros and cons of legalizing cannabis in New York. Well the time is almost here for the final report to be published and Health Commissioner Zucker says the review of potential legalization is thorough and they have decided that the pros outweigh the cons, meaning officials will likely begin discussing recreational regulations very soon. Legislators are saying that if legalization were to take place it wouldn't be an option until 2019. Until then New York's medical marijuana program will continue to grow and treat patients the best it can.

While the report has not yet been finalized, Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said its authors reached their conclusion after a thorough review of the legal, medical and social implications of legalization.

"We looked at the pros, we looked at the cons," Zucker told reporters at an appearance in Brooklyn. "When we were done we realized that the pros outweighed the cons."