Is Marijuana Legal in New York?

Is cannabis legal in New York? Well, the good news is Yes. The state government of New York recently legalized recreational marijuana on March 31, 2021. Having said that, do not get too excited as the state will take several months to actually implement the laws which will then allow people aged 21 or above to legally consume and cultivate marijuana. The state finally approved recreational use after a year’s long efforts to decriminalize weed.

Though weed has become legal, medical professionals suggest that patients should seek the advice of a medical marijuana doctor before buying the herb, even if it’s for recreational purposes. New York is the 15th US state along with Washington D.C to legalize recreational marijuana. As many questions have been coming up regarding this legalization, here is everything that you need to know about recreational cannabis use in the state-

Where is Marijuana Legal?

A recreational marijuana user could now possess or consume up to three ounces of marijuana and 24 gram of concentrated marijuana. Home cultivation is not yet allowed while one can store up to five pounds of cannabis at their personal residence. You can smoke cannabis anywhere in the state except in public parks, cars, workplaces and where smoking is banned.

Can I Buy Cannabis Now?

It may take a year or so for the state authorities to regulate the sales of legal marijuana. State officials estimate that recreational marijuana will be sold in stores in 18 months, while other businesses anticipate sales will not start until December 2022. Obtaining a prescription from your doctor and visiting a dispensary is the easiest way to buy under the new law. Apart from cancer, chronic pain, and HIV/AIDS, the state has added anxiety, insomnia, muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimer's disease to the list of medical disorders that can be treated with a doctor’s recommendation. Remember, one cannot buy marijuana without a doctor’s prescription and sell the herb without a state license.

Also, the new guidelines will allow dispensaries to sell a greater range of items, including complete flower, which is the dried bud of a marijuana plant, as well as a wider range of edible products. And this is significant for customers because smokable flowers are less expensive than processed items, which can range from $80 to $100 to $350, and are not covered by insurance.

Qualifying Conditions

Here are some of the qualifying health conditions that the state allows to be treated with marijuana -

• Cancer
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Dystonia
• Autism
• Alzheimer's disease
• Epilepsy
• HIV/AIDS
• Arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Neuropathy
• Parkinson's disease
• Chronic pain
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Huntington's disease
• Spinal cord injury with spasticity
• Any other condition that prevents the patient from undertaking daily activities.

Can I Grow Cannabis?

Well, the new law allows you to grow up to six marijuana plants or 12 marijuana plants at a single residence if you live with another marijuana patient. However, the new law of New York will take some months to allow cannabis cultivation, especially if you are a medical marijuana patient. Even the weed dealers would have to wait more than a year to get the selling license.

Bottom Line

As the state has recently legalized the recreational use of cannabis, the users are getting excited to legally use the herb. Despite the legalization, New Yorkers would have to wait for a year to actually possess and cultivate marijuana for their marijuana use. So, make sure you check all the state guidelines before entering a dispensary to buy your dose of cannabis.