Marijuana users get relief with new law
By Nelson A. King
Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the
implementation of the Marijuana
Decriminalization Law
marks “a new chapter in the
criminal justice system.”
“For too long, communities
of color have been disproportionately
impacted by
laws governing marijuana and
have suffered the life-long consequences
of an unfair marijuana
conviction,” said Cuomo,
about the new law that went
into effect on Wednesday, in a
statement.
“Today is the start of a new
chapter in the criminal justice
system,” he added. “By providing
individuals a path to have
their records expunged, including
those who have been unjustly
impacted based on their race
or ethnicity, and reducing the
penalty for unlawful possession
of marijuana to a fine, we
are giving many New Yorkers
the opportunity to live better
and more productive, successful
and healthier lives.
“This law is long overdue,
and it is a significant step forward
in our efforts to end this
repressive cycle and ultimately
mend our discriminatory criminal
Caribbean L 24 ife, Aug. 30, 2019
justice process once and
for all,” the governor continued.
On July, 29, Cuomo signed
legislation, S.6579A/A.8420,
further decriminalizing marijuana
use in New York State.
“New York’s existing marijuana
laws disproportionately
affect African American and
Latino communities, and this
legislation will address those
racial and ethnic disparities by
reducing the penalty for unlawful
possession of marijuana
to a violation punishable by a
fine, and by creating a process
for individuals who have
been convicted for possessing
small amounts of marijuana to
have their records expunged,”
Cuomo said.
The governor first proposed
the further decriminalization
of marijuana in 2013, and
again in the 2020 budget. The
bill took effect 30 days after
becoming law.
“By providing individuals
who have suffered the consequences
of an unfair marijuana
conviction with a path to have
their records expunged and by
reducing draconian penalties,
we are taking a critical step
forward in addressing a broken
and discriminatory criminal
justice process”, Cuomo said.
Senate Majority Leader
Andrea Stewart-Cousins said,
“decriminalizing marijuana is
an essential part of reforming
our state’s broken justice
system.
“For too long, communities
of color have been disproportionately
targeted and negatively
impacted,” she said. “The
Senate Democratic Majority
will continue our efforts for full
legalization and regulation of
marijuana, and today’s decriminalization
is a good first step.”
Assembly Speaker Carl
Heastie said the law is “an
important step in righting decades
of injustice caused by the
state’s current drug laws.
“Decriminalizing marijuana
and expunging records for
those with low level offenses
will go a long way towards
helping our communities, and
especially people of color, who
have been devastated by them,”
he said. “By removing the barriers
and stigma that come
with these records, we clear
the path for many New Yorkers
to find a job, housing and go on
to live successful and productive
lives.”
Cuomo said the legislation
makes marijuana enforcement
“fairer and more equitable” by
reducing the penalty for unlawful
possession of marijuana
to a violation punishable by
a fine and removing criminal
penalties for possession of any
amount of marijuana under
two ounces.
The law also creates “a process
for individuals with certain
marijuana convictions to have
their records expunged both
retroactively and for future
convictions,” Cuomo said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed the Marijuana Decriminalization
Law on July 29 this year.. Associated Press / Mike Groll
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