The top backer of legalizing marijuana in New York, Manhattan state Sen. Liz Krueger, admitted defeat Wednesday, after days of contentious negotiations between moderate and liberal Democrats failed to produce a last-minute breakthrough.

“This is not the end of the road, it is only a delay,” Krueger tweeted Wednesday morning.

Efforts to legalize pot got hung up on three key issues: the ability for cities and counties to opt out, how the tax revenues would be spent, and questions over how to prevent “driving while stoned.”

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