On March 31, Governor Andrew Cuomo took a breather from his “troubles” and signed the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act of 2021. New York now joins its neighbors Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey in allowing recreational cannabis for use by adults 21 years old and older. Citing “social justice” as a driving force, the governor’s office projects the state could see tax revenues of up to $350 million annually from taxing adult cannabis use and the creation of 30,000 to 60,000 new jobs across the state in the legal cannabis industry. Many parts of the law, including employment-related sections, are effective immediately. Read on to learn how the new law affects public- and private-sector employers.
