Although the fall in arrests after cannabis legalization may not seem remarkable, it was significantly greater than in other regions that had already implemented cannabis policy reform, and it is largely due to a particular feature of New York’s cannabis statute that permits for public consumption wherever tobacco can be smoked.
Arrests for unauthorized cannabis possession dropped from 163 in the first quarter of 2021 to only eight in the most recent quarter. Adults 21 years or older are allowed to obtain a maximum of three ounces of cannabis, thus the arrests are for possession in violation of the threshold.
Likewise, the number of cannabis-involved subpoenas dropped from 3,687 in the first quarter to only eight from April to June. Six were charged with unauthorized cannabis possession, and two with illegal cannabis selling. The state has yet to begin selling recreational cannabis in stores, posing an obstacle to entry.
