New York decriminalizes use of marijuana

New York has decriminalised the use of marijuana – becoming the 16th US state to do so.

The move, which would make possession of a small amount of the drug a violation rather than a felony, was signed into law by governor Andrew Cuomo.

The measure also demands that criminal records of offences linked to low-level marijuana cases either be marked as expunged, or destroyed – an apparent reflection that in the past communities of colour suffered unduly from different application of the law.

“Communities of colour have been disproportionately impacted by laws governing marijuana for far too long, and today we are ending this injustice once and for all,” Mr Cuomo said in a statement.
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