New York Governor Seeks to Decriminalize Marijuana

Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, is currently on the path to legalizing possession of marijuana. He wants citizens to have the permission to hold small amounts of marijuana and present the drug in public locations. He believes that too many people try to hide the substance in fear of getting caught, and wonders if allowing very small packets of the drug would limit the amount of pot arrests in the state. A similar bill was approved by the New Jersey Assembly Committee in May which aims to legalize 15 grams, or 0.5 ounces, of pot per person.


However, Cuomo has not given hint as to what his specific amount of pot will be yet. Right now, he has only told the press that he would like to allow possession of "a small amount" of the drug. Right now, the New York State law has a reduced penalty for people who have less than 25 grams of pot. Normally, first-time offenders are only required to pay $100 if they are found using or carrying marijuana. Yet if the drug is discovered in public, the crime is considered a misdemeanor. If a person is told to empty their pockets during a police stop and the law enforcement officers find marijuana, then they receive the misdemeanor charge.

If you have been charged with drug possession, you are probably wondering what to do next. Whenever you are arrested for a crime, you should always contact a criminal defense lawyer right away. You will want professional, legal help whenever you are charged with a crime so that you can be prepared to battle the charges in court. If you live in Michigan, then the Law Offices of Freedman & Freedman is the firm for you.

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