The new law will bring New York up to date with the other 14 states that have already legalized the drug.
Although already approved for medical use, such as Michigan, previous efforts to get marijuana passed for recreational use in New York have failed. However, due to the democrats now having the majority vote in regards to the state legislature, the Democrats promised to make the legalization of it a priority.
Many believe the the passing of this law would bring in about $350 million annually, and help to stop “the racially disparate enforcement of marijuana prohibition that has taken such a toll on communities of colour across our state, and to use the economic windfall of legalisation to help heal and repair those same communities”, said Liz Krueger, who is sponsoring the bill in the senate.
This is not to say the drug won’t be licensed, as only over 21 year-olds will be able to purchase it for recreational use, and many other licensing measures will be set up for the delivery and sourcing of the drug. To add to this, individual New York citizens will be able to grow three immature marijuana plants, and three mature ones. The sales of the drug will also be taxed by approximately nine percent depending on the levels of THC in the product.
The legalisation will also expunge anyone who has had a past criminal record and current conviction for possession of more than three ounces, as it will no longer be criminalised.
The legislation will take effect immediately after it has been passed, but the state will hold up sales of the drug until it can set up the proper rules and regulations surrounding the sales; potentially two years from now.
