Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation further
decriminalizing marijuana use in New York State. New York's existing marijuana
laws disproportionately affect African American and Latino communities, and
this legislation will address those racial and ethnic disparities by reducing
the penalty for unlawful possession of marijuana to a violation punishable by a
fine, and by creating a process for individuals who have been convicted for
possessing small amounts of marijuana to have their records expunged. The
Governor first proposed the further decriminalization of marijuana in 2013, and
again in the FY 2020 Budget. The bill will take effect 30 days after becoming
law. "Communities of color have been disproportionately
impacted by laws governing marijuana for far too long, and today we are ending
this injustice once and for all," Governor Cuomo said. "By providing
individuals who have suffered the consequences of an unfair marijuana
conviction with a path to have their records expunged and by reducing draconian
penalties, we are taking a critical step forward in addressing a broken and
discriminatory criminal justice process."
