Gerard Kassar Criticizes New York Policies on Cannabis and Redistricting

New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar warned that the state's 2021 decision to legalize recreational cannabis has led to a sharp rise in emergency‑room visits and pediatric poisonings, citing a 1,600% increase in cases involving children under five since 2016. He highlighted health risks such as Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, higher rates of psychosis and suicidal ideation among teens, and school‑related incidents where THC edibles are being smuggled, describing the situation as an “I‑told‑you‑so moment.”

Kassar also condemned a constitutional amendment proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats that would eliminate New York’s Independent Redistricting Commission, giving the legislature power to draw its own districts. He called the move “the latest chapter in Albany Democrats’ decade‑long war on free elections,” noting past attempts to overturn voter‑approved reforms, the 2021 voter rejection of a similar redistricting proposal, and the 2022 court‑struck down gerrymander.