ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — It was a promise to New Yorkers by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Democratic State Lawmakers: legalize recreational marijuana. But as the legislative session comes to a close, word from the Senate floor and those who sponsored the bill say there aren’t enough votes to make that a reality.
Legalizing recreational marijuana would have paved the way for new retail sales and millions in new revenue, supporters say.
Lawmakers are now flipping the script, working on laws that would decriminalize the use of recreational marijuana in New York State.
The Bill says possessing or smoking a small amount of marijuana would likely not get you arrested any longer, but you would have to pay a fine.
The Bill, which is sponsored by Buffalo Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes says its purpose is to “provide for the decriminalization of certain marijuana offenses and for the expungement and vacatur of the records of such convictions."
The new law would also wipe out any marijuana related arrests on a person’s record.
