New York - Criminal records are being cleared today for thousands of New Yorkers with low level marijuana convictions.
It's part of the state's new marijuana decriminalization law that also makes possession of under two ounces of pot a violation and caps fines at $200. It's estimated more than 13-thousand people from New York City and another ten-thousand residents statewide will automatically have their records expunged.
Governor Cuomo calls the law long overdue, giving those unjustly impacted based on their race or ethnicity the opportunity to live more productive, successful and healthier lives.
The legislation does not legalize recreational marijuana, a step that New York lawmakers wrestling with for months before being able to come to an agreement by the end of the legislative session in June.