N.Y. veterinarian, assemblyman caught with marijuana

Stephen Katz, DVM, 59, of Mohegan, N.Y., who is a state assemblyman for the 99th New York Assembly District, has been arrested on charges of unlawful possession of marijuana during a traffic stop on the New York State Thruway in the town of Coeymans, N.Y.

While northbound on I-87, Katz was stopped by a New York state trooper for traveling at 80 mph in a 65 mph speed zone. After noting a distinct odor, the trooper found Katz in possession of a small bag of marijuana, says Frank Bandiero, N.Y. State Police trooper. Katz was later released on a ticket to appear in the Town of Coeymans Court.

According to Katz's state assembly web page, he earned his VMD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984 and a bachelor of science in animal science from Cornell University in 1976.

Katz has been a practicing veterinarian for 21 years, the website reports. In 1995, he and his wife opened Concourse Animal Hospital on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.