Cannabis

Legalized Adult 21+ Recreational Cannabis in NYS. What does that mean?

On March 31, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act legalizing adult-use cannabis (also known as marijuana, or recreational marijuana) in New York State. The legislation creates a new Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) governed by a Cannabis Control Board to oversee and implement the law (collectively referred to as “OCM”). The OCM will issue licenses and develop regulations outlining how and when business can participate in the new industry. The OCM will also oversee the State’s existing Medical Marijuana Program and Cannabinoid Hemp Program, previously regulated by the Department of Health.

The information below is a collection of key provisions from the MRTA which impact local governments and local officials.

Adults over 21 can possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis (like vaporization oil or an edible). Personal possession over the legal limit and the unauthorized sale of any amount of cannabis is illegal and subject to penalties.
Cannabis cannot be consumed when operating a motor vehicle.
The legislation adds cannabis to the existing Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA), which establishes prohibitions on where cannabis can be smoked or vaporized. The smoking or vaporizing of cannabis is prohibited anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited.
Pursuant to the CIAA, municipalities are authorized to make laws that are more restrictive than the CIAA.
New Yorkers 21 years of age and older can grow up to 6 cannabis plants in their home for personal use (3 mature plants and 3 immature plants) and a maximum of twelve plants per household (6 mature plants and 6 immature plants). Please be aware the home cultivation of cannabis is not allowed yet. Pursuant to the MRTA, the home cultivation of cannabis is only permitted after the OCM issues regulations governing home cultivation of cannabis, which will occur within 18 months of the first adult-use retail sale.

For additional information or to contact the Office of Cannabis Management, please visit our website at: www.cannabis.ny.gov or e-mail us at: info@cannabis.ny.gov.

Additional Resources:

Marihuana Regulation and Tax Act Summary

Cannabis Management Fact Sheet

Model Smoke-Free Outdoor Policy

Office of Cannabis Management’s Cannabis Conversations

What is it?

Cannabis or marijuana, refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive(mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahdrocannabinol(THC), as well as other related compounds. This plant material can also be concentrated in a resin called hashish or a sticky black liquid called hash oil. THC is believed to be the main chemical ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect.

How is it used?

Cannabis is often smoked in:

Hand-rolled cigarettes (joints).
Pipes
Water pipes (bongs).
Partly or completely emptied cigars filled with cannabis (blunts).
THC-riched resins extracted from cannabis (dabbing).
Vaping dry herb, THC solution, or THC wax.

Smoking THC-rich resins extracted from the cannabis plant is on the rise. People are using various forms of these extracts, such as:

Hash oil or Honey oil, which is a gooey liquid.
Wax or Budder, which is a soft solid with a texture like lip balm.
Shatter, which is a hard, amber-colored solid.

These extracts can deliver extremely large amounts of THC to users, and their use has sent some people to the emergency room. Another danger is in preparing these extracts, which usually involves butane (lighter fluid). A number of people who have used butane to make extracts at home have caused fires and explosions and have been seriously burned.

Dried cannabis can also be added to food or the more popular option is THC infused food or drinks. Advances in infusion methods, a wide selection of cannabis-infused products include:

Baked goods.
Gummies.
Seasoning packets.
Cooking oil.
Chocolates.
Breath strips.
Mints.
Sodas.
Countless other items.

Consuming is easy , what’s not easy about using edibles is the fact it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for the effects to kick in. Because the cannabis within the edibles has to go through your digestive system before entering your bloodstream, the effects may take hours to set in and the strength of effects gradually builds to a peak. The duration of your high can then last anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day depending on how much you consume. Take longer to feel the effects, people may consume more to feel the effects faster. This may lead to people consuming very high doses and result in negative effects like anxiety, paranoia and, in rare cases, an extreme psychotic reaction (e.g. delusions, hallucinations, talking incoherently, and agitation. Marketing of these THC infused edible products can also lead to products be taking by mistake and also hiding use from adults by youth.

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States as cannabis is federally illegal. Its use is widespread among young people. According to a yearly survey of middle and high school students, rates of cannabis use have steadied in the past few years after several years of increase. However, the number of young people who believe cannabis use is risky is decreasing. Legalization of cannabis for medical use or adult recreational use in New York and a growing number of states may affect these views.

Effects of Cannabis Use

Cannabis has both short-and long-term effects on the brain.

Short-term Effects

When a person inhales (smokes/vapes) cannabis, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout the body. The body absorbs THC more slowly when the person eats or drinks it. In that case, the user generally feels the effects after 30 minutes to 1 hour.

THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural THC-like chemicals in the brain. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and function. Cannabis over activates parts of the brain that contains the highest number of these receptors. This causes the “high” that users feel. Other effects include:

Altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors).
Altered sense of time.
Changes in mood.
Impaired body movement.
Difficulty with thinking and problem-solving.
Impaired memory.

Long-term Effects

Cannabis also affects brain development. When cannabis users begin using as teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. Cannabis’s effects on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent.

Other Physical and Mental Effects

Breathing problems.
Increased heart rate.
Problems with child development during and after pregnancy.
Temporary hallucinations.
Temporary paranoia.
Schizophrenia.

Is Cannabis a Gateway Drug?

Some research suggests that cannabis use is likely to come before use of other drugs. Cannabis use is also linked to addiction to other substances, including nicotine. In addition, animal studies show that the THC in cannabis makes other drugs more pleasurable to the brain. Although these findings support the idea of cannabis as a “gateway drug,” the majority of people who use cannabis don’t go on to use other “harder” drugs.

Marijuana Research Report

Is Cannabis Addictive?

Contrary to common belief, cannabis CAN be addictive. Research suggests that 30 percent of users may develop some degree of problem use, which can lead to dependence and in severe cases takes the form of addiction. People who begin using cannabis before age 18 are 4 to 7 times more likely than adults to develop problem use. Dependence becomes addiction when the person can’t stop using cannabis even though it interferes with his or her daily life.

How Can People Get Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder?

Long-term cannabis users trying to quit report withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult.

These include:

Grouchiness.
Sleeplessness.
Decreased appetite.
Anxiety.
Cravings.

Behavioral support has been effective in treating cannabis use disorder. Examples include therapy and motivational incentives (providing rewards to patients who remain substance free). No medications are currently available to treat cannabis use disorder. However, continuing research may lead to new medications that help ease withdrawal symptoms, block the effects of cannabis, and prevent relapse.