New York is getting closer to legal marijuana.

On July 13, the state Health Department issued a report recommending legalization of the drug, and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo suggested that it was not a question of if, but when legalization would happen in New York.

The move followed a change in policy in New York City. In June, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would hand out tickets to some people caught smoking pot instead of arresting them.

But before New Yorkers break out their gummies and vape pens, here’s an explainer on what’s changing and when.

How illegal is marijuana in New York City, really?

Despite what you might smell on the streets, it’s still illegal. Marijuana possession and use in most cases are still outlawed under both federal and state law.