This legislation would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana under state law along lines similar to the state’s current system regulating alcohol, and would represent a new approach for New York State after decades of costly, counterproductive policies that have produced racially discriminatory outcomes.

In brief, the bill:

-Removes penalties for possession of 2 ounces of marijuana or less;

-Makes 18 the minimum legal age for marijuana possession and consumption;

-Establishes that smoking marijuana in public and possession of marijuana by persons under the age of 18 are violations;

-Allows for home cultivation of up to six marijuana plants;

-Empowers the State Liquor Authority to grant licenses for marijuana production, transport and retail sale;

-Prohibits sale of marijuana to persons under 21;

-Allows communities to opt out of retail sale for off-premises consumption through a referendum process similar to what is now in place for alcohol sales;

-Allows communities to opt in to allow retail sales for on-premises consumption through a vote of the local legislature, in addition to the local c

-Community board in the case of New York City;

-Establishes an excise tax of $50.00 per ounce of marijuana, and authorizes localities to charge a sales tax on retail sales; and

-Directs a portion of the state tax revenue collected to be directed to re-entry programs, substance abuse programs, and job training programs in low-income, high-unemployment communities.

-From LizKrueger.com