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Cuomo moves to reform marijuana law
Jun 05, 2012 6:10 am
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="224" caption="NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, left, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo."]
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Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Mon., June 4, proposed legislation to make the penalties for private and public possession of small amounts of marijuana the same. Under the current law anyone in possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana, which is open to public view, can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, while private possession of the same amount is a finable offense, subject to a maximum fine of $100. Cuomo's proposal will decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana across the board. "Today's announcement is about creating fairness and consistency in our laws...," Cuomo said. "This is an issue that disproportionately affects young people -- they wind up with a permanent stain on their record for something that would otherwise be a violation." Among those arrested in New York last year, more than 50 percent were under 25 years of age, and 82 percent were either black or Hispanic. Listen to the Governor's Monday afternoon press conference.
Click here to listen to an excerpt of the press conference, first Counsel Mylan Denerstein explaining the specifics of the policy reform, and then Gov. Cuomo commenting on the reason for the proposed change.
PLAY CLIP 1:47
[/caption]Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Mon., June 4, proposed legislation to make the penalties for private and public possession of small amounts of marijuana the same. Under the current law anyone in possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana, which is open to public view, can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, while private possession of the same amount is a finable offense, subject to a maximum fine of $100. Cuomo's proposal will decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana across the board. "Today's announcement is about creating fairness and consistency in our laws...," Cuomo said. "This is an issue that disproportionately affects young people -- they wind up with a permanent stain on their record for something that would otherwise be a violation." Among those arrested in New York last year, more than 50 percent were under 25 years of age, and 82 percent were either black or Hispanic. Listen to the Governor's Monday afternoon press conference.
Click here to listen to an excerpt of the press conference, first Counsel Mylan Denerstein explaining the specifics of the policy reform, and then Gov. Cuomo commenting on the reason for the proposed change.
PLAY CLIP 1:47