Passed after several years of stalled efforts, the measure makes New York the 16th state to legalize adult use of the drug, though South Dakota’s measure is in legal limbo.
New York becomes the second-most populous state, after California, to legalize recreational marijuana.
Still, New Yorkers can’t smoke or vape marijuana in locations where smoking is prohibited by state law, including workplaces, indoor bars and restaurants and within 100 feet of a school.
Legalization supporters say that it’s already easy for young adults to get pot and that there’s no clear link between marijuana legalization and traffic accidents.
The trade publication Marijuana Business Daily estimates New York could become the East Coast's largest recreational marijuana market — generating a potential $2.3 billion in annual sales by its fourth year.