Gary Colmey, 65, saw three probation officers walk into his Rome store, Gary’s Music. They weren’t there to buy a musical instrument. In the back of his music store, Colmey runs a separate business called Gary’s Indoor Garden Supply. The supply store sells “absolutely legal cannabis,” or CBD, a product that does not get the […]
marijuana decriminalization
10,872 New Yorkers to See Their Marijuana Convictions Disappear
Even as states across the country have legalized marijuana, potentially opening the door to a multibillion dollar industry, the impact of marijuana criminalization is still being felt by people — mostly black and Hispanic — whose records are marked by low-level convictions related to the drug. But on Wednesday, New York began the process of expunging […]
NY Officially Decriminalized Marijuana Today. Here’s What You Should Know.
A bill signed into law 30 days ago takes effect today, partially decriminalizing marijuana possession (again). Residents across New York State can publicly possess or smoke up to 2 ounces of marijuana without criminal penalties. The new law changes Marijuana Possession in the Fifth Degree from a low-level misdemeanor to a non-criminal violation. That means police, in […]
New York governor signs bill decriminalizing marijuana use
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Monday signed a bill decriminalizing the use of marijuana in the state and expunge the records of some people convicted on cannabis-related charges. “Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by laws governing marijuana for far too long, and today we are ending this injustice once and for all,” […]
Kamala Harris just introduced a bill to decriminalize marijuana
More than half of all states have taken some action to legalize or decriminalize marijuana, but using the drug is still a crime under federal law. Senators, including 2020 contenders Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), have proposed legislation to tackle this disconnect, and on Tuesday, Kamala Harris (D-CA) joined the fray. Harris’s plan, one […]
Hawaii has decriminalized marijuana
Hawaii on Tuesday decriminalized marijuana, making it the 26th state to decriminalize or legalize the drug. The new law removes the possibility of jail time as a penalty for up to three grams of marijuana, but maintains a $130 fine. Hawaii’s Democrat-controlled legislature approved the bill and sent it to Democratic Gov. David Ige in May. Ige […]
The Empire State of Cannabis
Marijuana decriminalization is in, adult-use is out, a regulated hemp-derived CBD marketplace is in limbo, and NYC begins CBD-ban. For New York’s cannabis industry, 2019 began with a bang and ended with a whimper. In January, Governor Cuomo announced that legalizing marijuana and creating a regulated adult-use marketplace was a top legislative priority. Indeed, Governor […]
Inside NY’s new marijuana decriminalization law: How it works
Legalization of marijuana for recreational use failed in New York this year. So lawmakers turned instead to “decriminalization.” But what, exactly, does that mean? Here’s how one advocate who favored legalization sees decriminalization: “You can have some (marijuana) but you can’t buy it, can’t sell it, can’t trade or grow it and you’ll still be arrested […]
New York lawmakers strike deal to decriminalize marijuana possession
State lawmakers were poised to give final passage Thursday night to a measure further decriminalizing possession of marijuana and create a process that could lead to the clearing of marijuana conviction records for tens of thousands of people. A separate measure to greatly expand the state’s existing medical marijuana program — which suffers from high […]
Texas Rejects Bill To Reduce Marijuana Penalties Despite Just 14% Of The State Saying It Should Be Illegal
Texas lawmakers have dismissed a bill to reduce the penalties for marijuana-related offenses, citing strong opposition to decriminalization despite the fact that a plurality of voters in the state believe the drug should be fully legalized. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick declared the legislation “dead” in the Texas Senate just after the House gave the bill […]
Texas House passes bill that reduces penalties for Texans caught with small amounts of marijuana
After a brief discussion, the Texas House gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that would reduce the penalties for low-level possession of marijuana — a move lauded as a win by those eager for the state to take its first major step toward loosening its staunch marijuana laws. But hopes of turning the bill […]
Wisconsin governor calls for decriminalization of recreational marijuana use
Gov. Tony Evers wants to allow Wisconsin residents to carry or sell small amounts of marijuana and legalize its use for medical reasons, aides said Sunday. Evers will propose in his first state budget proposal to decriminalize marijuana if its users, manufacturers and distributors handle 25 grams or fewer and create Wisconsin’s first medical marijuana program that would […]
Baltimore to no longer prosecute marijuana possession
Baltimore’s top prosecutor announced Tuesday that the city will no longer prosecute any cases related to marijuana possession, regardless of quantity or a person’s criminal record. Marilyn Mosby, the state’s attorney in Baltimore, is also seeking to have the courts vacate roughly 5,000 prior marijuana convictions going back to 2011, The Associated Press reported. “No one who is serious about public […]
Texas marijuana advocates get fired up to decriminalize pot in 2019
On a typical night, Flamingo Cantina is packed with patrons seeking out its “good vibes music.” But on the unusually quiet Wednesday after New Year’s Eve, as the buzzed frat boys and trashed tourists who flock to Austin’s Sixth Street take a sabbatical from the sauce, this Rastafarian watering hole hosted a wholly different crowd. “We’re […]
Marijuana Decriminalization Bills Filed In Texas With Bipartisan Support
Decriminalization of marijuana in Texas is back on the table as nearly a half dozen bills related to the drug’s use were filed on Monday for the 86th legislative session. Recreational and most medical uses of marijuana are still prohibited in the state, the exception being low-THC cannabis for qualifying intractable epilepsy patients under the […]
Despite marijuana’s increasing legalization and acceptance, arrests soar in Philly Suburbs and South Jersey
Corey Thornton admits he gave little thought to the marijuana in his car as he drove along Germantown Pike near the Plymouth Meeting Mall in March. He was heading home to Philadelphia, where police have essentially decriminalized marijuana possession — no longer arresting thousands a year for pot but issuing a like number of $25 civil […]
Marijuana possession expungement bill becomes law in Delaware
Simple possession of marijuana was decriminalized in Delaware nearly three years ago. Gov. Carney signed a bill Wednesday allowing those charged with marijuana possession as a criminal offense prior to 2015 to have their criminal records expunged— or cleared. State Sen. Greg Lavelle sponsored the legislation along with State Rep. Valerie Longhurst. Lavelle says expungement […]
Manhattan DA Decriminalizes Cannabis Use In The Borough
Starting Wednesday (8/1), most cases of marijuana smoking and possession in Manhattan won’t be prosecuted. Manhattan district attorney Cyrus Vance released a new “decline to prosecute” policy for the D.A.’s office on Tuesday (7/31). Vance says: Every day I ask our prosecutors to keep Manhattan safe and make our justice system more equal and fair. The […]
