A new law signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday decriminalizes marijuana use in New York.
Under the new legislation, the penalty for unlawful possession of marijuana will be reduced to a violation punishable by a fine. The penalty is $50 for possessing less than an ounce of pot or a maximum of $200 for 1 to 2 ounces.
There will be no criminal penalties for possession of any amount of marijuana under two ounces.
This also allows for people who have certain marijuana convictions to have their records expunged.
Supporters of the legislation say marijuana laws have disproportionately affect African American and Latino communities for years. Cuomo calls the law “a critical step forward in addressing a broken and discriminatory criminal justice process.”
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