ALBANY — New York lawmakers, having fallen short in a push
to fully legalize marijuana, have agreed to further decriminalize possession of
the drug and automatically expunge many low-level marijuana convictions across
the state.
The measure, which would treat possession of up to two
ounces of marijuana as a violation instead of a crime, is a significant change
in a state in which tens of thousands of residents have been arrested for
small-scale possession.
The agreement came after months of negotiations in Albany
failed to establish the type of fully legalized industry embraced in nearly a
dozen other states, including California, Washington and Alaska.
Still, the measure agreed to on Thursday by the Democrat-led
Legislature, and backed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, also a Democrat, was still
considered a step forward for those pushing for lessening drug penalties,
particularly the expungement of records. Read more HERE.
