The purchase of cannabis became legal in the State of New York (United States) this Thursday, subject to going to an approved shop. The very first of these stores opened the same day in midtown Manhattan. It is run by the non-profit organization Housing Works, which helps HIV-positive people, ex-convicts and the homeless. Since November 21, local authorities have granted 36 official licenses.
A model of safety and fairness
The consumption of cannabis has also been authorized in the territory for more than a year for people over 21 years of age. Kathy Hochul, Democratic Governor, spoke of “a historic milestone for the cannabis industry in New York”. She said she wants to make New York State a model to follow in making the legal sale of cannabis a safe and fair business.
In the long term, the State aims to grant the first 150 official approvals to sellers convicted in the past for possession or sale of cannabis. He thus intends to repair the injustice from which he considers that the Afro-American and Hispanic communities have suffered. The latter would indeed have been sentenced in disproportionate proportions compared to the rest of the population for cases related to marijuana.