weed-smoker
NEW YORK (77WABC) – Recreational use of marijuana by adults is now legal in New York state and records of people convicted of pot possession will now be expunged. Governor Cuomo signed the bill into law Wednesday morning.
“Tonight, the New York State Legislature took the first step in a major leap forward for the Empire State by passing legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis,” he said in a statement. “For too long the prohibition of cannabis disproportionately targeted communities of color with harsh prison sentences and after years of hard work, this landmark legislation provides justice for long-marginalized communities, embrace a new industry that will grow the economy, and establishes substantial safety guards for the public.”
“New York has a storied history of being the progressive capital of the nation, and this important legislation will once again carry on that legacy,” he added. “I look forward to signing this legislation into law.”
Under the final legislation, 3 ounces of marijuana will be legal to possess for New Yorkers over 21 and the substance will have a 13% sales tax. The tax revenues will be broken up with 9% going to the state and 4% going to localities, according to the legislation.
The New York State Assembly voted 100-49 to pass the marijuana legalization bill.
In the past, the Governor was against legalizing recreational marijuana use. He said back in February 2017, “I support medical marijuana, I don’t support recreational marijuana.”
He went on to say, “The flip-side argument as you know is it’s a gateway drug, and marijuana leads to other drugs and there’s a lot of proof that that’s true.”
The governor’s office said as many as 60,000 new jobs could be created and the state will generate $350 million in revenue annually, as a result of the new laws.
#BREAKING: I just signed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis.
The bill creates automatic expungement of previous marijuana convictions that would now be legal.
This is a historic day.
I thank the Leader and Speaker and the tireless advocacy of so many.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 31, 2021
