A bill introduced in the New York Senate today would remove barriers preventing individuals on parole, probation, or other forms of state supervision from working in the legal marijuana industry.
Senate Bill 6181, sponsored by Senator Kevin Parker (D), has been referred to the Investigations and Government Operations Committee for consideration. The measure updates state law to ensure that individuals required to be employed as a condition of their supervision can meet that requirement by working at a licensed marijuana business—unless their specific terms of supervision explicitly prohibit it.
The bill adds language stating that a person under state supervision “may fulfill such employment requirement through employment at any licensee under this chapter unless the terms and conditions of said parole, probation, or state supervision explicitly prohibit such person’s employment at such licensee.”
If enacted, the legislation would further align New York’s marijuana policies with broader criminal justice reform efforts, ensuring that prior convictions do not unnecessarily restrict access to employment in the legal cannabis sector.
