The New York Senate has voted of 42 to 16 to advance a measure that would make clear that people on parole, probation, or other forms of state supervision can work in the legal marijuana industry.
Filed by State Senator Kevin Parker (D), Senate Bill 6181 would update state law to say that someone who is required to maintain employment as a condition of supervision may satisfy that requirement by working for a licensed marijuana business, unless the specific terms of their parole, probation or supervision explicitly bar that type of job.
The proposal is designed to remove a barrier that has created confusion for some people trying to work in New York’s regulated marijuana market. Although the state has emphasized social equity as a key part of its marijuana legalization framework, some individuals under supervision have reportedly still faced obstacles when attempting to take jobs with licensed businesses.
Under the legislation, employment with any licensee under New York’s marijuana law would count toward an employment requirement tied to parole, probation or other state supervision, unless a person’s individual supervision terms say otherwise. In other words, the bill would not override specific restrictions placed on someone’s release, but it would establish that marijuana industry employment is otherwise acceptable under state law.
With Senate approval secured, the proposal now moves to the Assembly. Today, a coalition of 22 assemblymembers filed Assembly Bill 10426, a companion to Senate Bill 6181. The proposal has been referred to the Economic Development Committee.
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