New York: Legislature adjourns without passing a legalization measure

Ask Gov. Cuomo to sign improvements to decrim.

After months of debate this legislative session on how the state will approach legalization, the legislature adjourned this week without reaching a conclusion.

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Senator Liz Krueger's Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act was unable to gain enough support in the Senate to receive a vote before the legislature's deadline.

However, the legislature did approve improvements to New York's decriminalization cannabis policies.

Lawmakers passed legislation to fix the state's decriminalization law and provide for automatic expungement for those with certain misdemeanor cannabis convictions. This reform will save thousands of New Yorkers from arrest and allow those with previous cannabis convictions to move on with their lives. For more details, read our full summary of the bill here.

Please ask Gov. Cuomo to sign A08420!

It is unfortunate that despite the majority of New Yorkers supporting legalization, the legislature failed to act this session. It is past time to end cannabis prohibition in New York. Let your lawmakers know you want them to end prohibition and replace it with a system where marijuana is taxed and regulated similarly to alcohol.