Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation that decriminalizes the use of marijuana in New York State.
"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," Governor Cuomo said.
The measure reduces the penalty for possession to a fine and also creates a process to expunge convictions for possessing a small amount of the drug.
"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.
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