New York Assembly Passes Key Marijuana Bills: Sealing Marijuana Convictions and Medical Marijuana Access for Opioid Use Disorder
ALBANY, NY The New York State Assembly voted Wednesday to pass a bill to seal marijuana convictions for individuals who have been unjustly and unconstitutionally arrested for simple possession of marijuana in public view.
The bill, Assembly Bill 2142, the Marijuana Sealing Bill, is sponsored by Assmblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D-Buffalo).
This is the third time the Assembly has passed this legislation, underscoring the chambers call for marijuana reform to center those who have been impacted by prohibitions disproportionate enforcement.
The passage of this legislation comes at a time when marijuana reform and broader legalization is being regularly discussed by elected officials and candidates for elected office across the state, many of whom have spoken about and acknowledged the injustice that these arrests represent.
Over the last 20 years, more than 800,000 New Yorkers have been arrested for simple possession of marijuana. Those convicted face significant barriers to accessing education, employment, housing opportunities, and other state services.
The Speaker of the Assembly, among others, called for theclearing of recordsto be a part of any discussion about legalization. The Governor, who earlier this year launched a study of marijuana legalization, has the ability to address this issue head on by following the lead ofVermont Governor Peter Shumlinand pardoning those who were arrested under the public view loopholedespite marijuana decriminalization in 1977.
As New York moves forward to reform marijuana enforcement and study the beneficial outcomes of legalization for the state, it is imperative that any efforts to legalize marijuana for adult use also address the mass criminalization of communities of color that has come as a product of the enforcement of marijuana prohibition, saidChristopher Alexander, policy coordinator at the Drug Policy Alliance.
The Assembly also passed legislation that wouldadd opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditionsfor the states medical marijuana programan important step forward for patient access across New York.
The bill, Assembly Bill 9016, is sponsored by Assembly Member Daniel ODonnell (D-Manhattan).
This move is responsive to the current overdose crisis New York is experiencing and lack of effective patient access to medical marijuana. It has long been known that marijuana is an effective analgesic; moreover, there is some evidence to suggest that some people use marijuana to replace opioids. In states with medical marijuana laws research has showndecreased admissions for opioid-related treatmentand dramatically reduced rates ofopioid overdoses.
There is a growing body of scientific literature suggesting the potential for marijuana to helpreduce opioid withdrawalsymptoms and therefore help ease patients away from opioid use.
Fullmarijuana legalization in New Yorkfor adults over 21 could be an additional important tool in combating the ...
