Weed smokers across the state of New York can let out a sigh, and maybe, a puff of relief now that Governor Andrew Cuomo has finally signed a bill into law that decriminalizes marijuana.

The new law removes all criminal penalties for possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. It also lowered the fines for possession of marijuana to $50 if found with less than an ounce and a max of $200 if found with up to two ounces.

Additionally, the law will allow people to expunge convictions for possession of under two ounces of marijuana.

I just signed legislation decriminalizing marijuana use in New York & creating a process for expunging past convictions.

Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by laws governing marijuana for far too long, and today we are ending this injustice. pic.twitter.com/PBSXWbQtiW

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 29, 2019

"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 in a statement. "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.”

From 2008 to 2017, more than 360,000 people were arrested for possession of various quantities of marijuana in New York state. New York is now the 16th state to decriminalize marijuana while the District of Columbia and 11 other states have legalized it.

The bill is not what Cuomo and other Democratic lawmakers were hoping for, as many sought to make marijuana fully legal in the state. But rural state senators, pushed by police unions and parent associations, torpedoed a last minute effort to legalize the drug in June.

Despite controlling both houses of government in New York, some Democrats were concerned about how it would be regulated. Additionally, they were not enticed by a recent report showing the marijuana industry in New York could make up to $3.5 billion annually.

The governor made legalization a huge part of his reelection platform and said the tax revenue could go toward repairing New York City's perpetually broken, underfunded subway system.

“This 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," said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie in a statement.

"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.”

Legalization-of-Marijuana

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week