Lamont, Cuomo seek common ground on vaping and recreational pot issues

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Ned Lamont met privately in Gov. Lamont's home Wednesday to see if the two states can find common ground on matters of vaping and recreational marijuana.
Cuomo says since New York and Connecticut are neighbors, they should come up with similar rules for both issues.
While legalizing marijuana has stalled in Connecticut, Cuomo says he plans to push for it in New York next year. That could force the hands of lawmakers in Connecticut to finally take a vote on it.
"It makes no sense to pass one set of rules in New York when they can just drive across the border to Connecticut and have a different set of rules, and vice versa," Cuomo said.
Lamont pointed out that when states like Colorado legalized marijuana, lawmakers had to change the law a number of times.
New York also recently banned all flavored vape pods for e-cigarettes. Cuomo implemented the ban through an executive order.
"Scooby Doo, bubble gum, cotton candy. They are targeting children as a market," Gov. Cuomo said.
Lamont says he's not sure he has the authority to do the same in Connecticut, but he promised to send lawmakers a strong bill on vaping next year.
"Whether you ban all vaping products, or whether that leads more people to the black market -- the illegal stuff that's even more dangerous -- I want to do a little more research on this," Gov. Lamont said. "It's still early."
Both sides will meet again in three weeks to try and find common ground.