The New York Police Department (NYPD) Thursday sent a memo to officers updating them on new policies for marijuana after the governor signed a legalization bill into law this week. Among other changes, police can no longer arrest adults 21 and older for simply using marijuana in places where smoking tobacco is permitted—and that includes “on sidewalks, on front stoops and other public places,” the document states. “As a result, smoking marihuana in any of these locations is not a basis for an approach, stop, summons, arrest or search.” As prescribed under the law, adults can now possess up to three ounces of cannabis and also gift marijuana to other adults “so long as no compensation is exchanged,” NYPD said. Home cultivation will eventually be legal as well, but not until regulators issued rules allowing it.
Tom Angell, Marijuana Moment, 04/05/2021 06:10:00