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New York lawmakers roll with decriminalization effort after legal weed legislation burns out

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ALBANY — Democrats in the state capital advanced a proposal Thursday that would reduce criminal penalties for smoking or possessing pot in public.

A day after efforts to legalize recreational marijuana were officially declared no longer doobie-able, Senate Democrats passed the measure decriminalizing small amounts of weed and expunging past pot convictions. The Assembly was slated to take up the proposal as well.

Gov. Cuomo said he supports the effort and called the scaled-back bill a “major accomplishment.”

“This is the best that can be done in this session, which is in and of itself a major accomplishment,” he said.

The bill would make would replace low-level criminal charges with civil tickets similar to parking violations, capping fines at $50 for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana.

Other measures expanding the existing medical marijuana program and aiding the growing hemp industry were also being considered as elected officials wrapped up the legislative session. Supporters vowed to keep fighting for commercial adult-use cannabis, which would be regulated and taxed by the state, when lawmakers return to Albany next year.