ALBANY (AP) -- New York state police have charged a Hudson Valley assemblyman with marijuana possession following a Republican and Conservative, a veterinarianon the Thruway.
Troopers say 59-year-old Stephen Katz of Mohegan Lake was stopped about 10 a.m. Tuesday in Coeymans south of Albany for driving 80 mph on the highway with a 65 mph speed limit.
They say the officer smelled marijuana and found Katz had a small bag of the drug. He was given an appearance ticket for the violation.
He's due in Coeymans Town Court on March 28.
The Republican and Conservative, a veterinarian first elected in 2010, says he won't let the charge impede his public service and campaign for mandate relief.
He says he's confident, once the facts are presented, "that this will quickly be put to rest."
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