Light Up New York! Governor Cuomo Wants Lesser Penelty For Illegal Drug Possession

Turns out the Governor of New York isn't as uptight as we thought.  He wants to reduce the penalty for possessing 25 grams of illegal drugs. 

Okay, maybe the Governor isn't condoning using illegal drugs, but he has recognized that the sentence for possessing a little bit is too high.  Right now if you're caught with 25 grams of illegal drugs it goes down a a misdemeanor, and you get a nice little criminal record.  Cuomo wants that reduced to just paying a fine.

This is an issue that disproportionately affects young people — they wind up with a permanent stain on their record for something that would otherwise be a violation. The charge makes it more difficult for them to find a job. Together, we are making New York fairer and safer, and ensuring that every New Yorker has access to justice system that doesn’t discriminate based on age or color.

-Governor Cuomo

Don't be so quick to use illegal drugs in public though.  That is still not okay to do.  California and Connecticut already have lesser penalties for this, and if approved New York would follow.

[Via LA Times]