Possession and sales of marijuana will soon be legal in St. Lawrence County and the rest of the state. Sales would likely begin late next year, and people would need to be age 21 or older to purchase it.

"Tonight, the New York State Legislature took the first step in a major leap forward for the Empire State by passing legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo."I thank Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and the many legislators who worked tirelessly on this issue for securing passage of this historic legislation."

"For too long the prohibition of cannabis disproportionately targeted communities of color with harsh prison sentences and after years of hard work, this landmark legislation provides justice for long-marginalized communities, embraces a new industry that will grow the economy, and establishes substantial safety guards for the public.

"New York has a storied history of being the progressive capital of the nation, and this important legislation will once again carry on that legacy. I look forward to signing this legislation into law."

New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement in response to the passage of marijuana legalization in New York:

“The legalization of marijuana is a racial and criminal justice imperative, and today’s vote is a critical step towards a fairer and more just system. For too long, people of color have been disproportionately impacted by an outdated and shortsighted marijuana prohibition, and it’s past time we right this wrong. We must also engineer an economy that will provide a much-needed boost to communities devastated by the war on drugs and COVID-19, and I am hopeful this will help to achieve that for New Yorkers.”

As New York City Public Advocate, Attorney General James was among the first elected officials in the state to call for the legalization of recreational marijuana, citing the need for a fairer justice system and a significant boost to the economy. Attorney General James has also advocated for expunging the records of those who have been arrested, detained, or convicted of marijuana-related possession.