NYS Assemblyman Faces Pot Charges

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York state police say an assemblyman stopped for speeding on the state Thruway has been charged with marijuana possession.

Troopers say Stephen Katz was stopped on Tuesday morning for driving 80 mph on the highway with a 65 mph speed limit in Coeymans ), south of Albany. They say an officer smelled marijuana and found Katz had a small bag of the drug.

Katz, who made headlines locally earlier this week criticizing state funding for the Buffalo Bills stadium, was given an appearance ticket for the violation. He's due in Coeymans Town Court on March 28.

The Hudson Valley assemblyman is a Republican and Conservative who lives in Mohegan Lake. He's a veterinarian first elected in 2010. He says he won't let the charge impede his public service.

He says he's confident once the facts are presented "this will quickly be put to rest."