Politics

But the bill still has hurdles to face in the Senate

“Hopefully, the next time this unofficial holiday, 4/20, rolls around, our country will have made progress in addressing the massive overcriminalization of marijuana in a meaningful and comprehensive way.”

But the President himself has not made that vow

"This is a historic day in New York - one that rights the wrongs of the past by putting an end to harsh prison sentences, embraces an industry that will grow the Empire State's economy and prioritizes marginalized communities"

White House staffers were suspended, asked to resign, or placed in a remote work program as a result of their admission to having used cannabis in the past.

"It would be inconsistent with suitability regulations to implement a policy of finding an individual unfit or unsuitable for federal service solely on the basis of recency of marijuana use"

Biden’s tune has shifted more recently, though not as dramatically as some cannabis advocates and criminal justice reformers hoped.

The state estimates legalization would bring in $300 million of tax revenue at time where its budget could use the boost. 

Though largely symbolic, the reclassification acknowledges the plant’s medicinal value and could help countries that look to the UN for guidance to bolster legalization efforts.