New York’s state legislature has passed a bill legalizing the use of recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and older, while ending most pot-related arrests in the state. Governor Andrew Cuomo has pledged to sign the measure.
The legalization bill passed the state Senate 40-23 on Tuesday and was approved by the state assembly in a vote of 100-49 later in the evening, paving the way for New York to become the 15th state in the US to legalize recreational marijuana use.
“For far 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, embraces a new industry that will grow the economy, and establishes substantial safety guards for the public,” Cuomo said in a statement hailing the bill after it was passed.
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. I look forward to signing this legislation into law.