Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA)
The Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) legalizes recreational, adult-use marijuana in the state of New York. The bill was signed into law in 2021. Under the law, New York State restricts marijuana use to those over the age of 21. The law legalizes marijuana in New York despite it remaining federally illegal, which is possible due to the United States’ system of federalism. The law created a new state agency called the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), which is responsible for the regulation of marijuana and marijuana dispensaries.
[Last reviewed in May of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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