The move, which would make possession of a small amount of the drug a violation rather than a felony, was signed into law by governor Andrew Cuomo.
The measure also demands that criminal records of offences linked to low-level marijuana cases either be marked as expunged, or destroyed – an apparent reflection that in the past communities of colour suffered unduly from different application of the law.
“Communities of colour have been disproportionately impacted by laws governing marijuana for far too long, and today we are ending this injustice once and for all,” Mr Cuomo said in a statement.
In many respects, the decision by politicians in the state capital, Albany, is behind the trend in many parts of the country.
1/26
A man wears a marijuana leaf mask during the annual 4/20 cannabis culture celebration at Sunset Beach in Vancouver, British Columbia
AP
2/26
A lady smokes marijuana on Parliament Hill on 4/20 in Ottawa, Ontario
Getty Images
3/26
James Reed smokes a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
4/26
People sign a 4/20 sign on Parliament Hill on in Ottawa, Ontario
Getty Images
5/26
A woman smokes marijuana on Parliament Hill on 4/20 in Ottawa, Ontario. Polling released showed strong support in Canada for a government drive to legalise recreational use of marijuana, but many would like the proposed minimum age for consumption to be raised. Sixty-three percent of respondents told the Angus Reid Institute they support legalisation
Getty Images
6/26
A man smokes marijuana during the annual 4/20 marijuana rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Reuters
7/26
Demonstrators smoke marijuana during the '4/20 Santiago’ rally in favour of legalisation in front of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, as part of the Global Marijuana March which is being held in hundreds of cities worldwide
Getty Images
8/26
People play with a mock marijuana joint during a 4/20 party to demand legalisation and to celebrate marijuana culture outside the Senate building in Mexico City, Mexico
Reuters
9/26
Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DCMJ, hands out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20′ day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Getty Images
10/26
11/26
Police arrest Rachel Ramone Donlan after she handed out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20′ day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
AFP/Getty Images
12/26
Police arrest Rachel Ramone Donlan after she handed out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20′ day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Getty Images
13/26
Thousands of people gather to smoke marijuana during the '420 Santiago’rally in front of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago
Getty Images
14/26
People attend the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
15/26
Kevin Barron and Lasean Moore of Raleigh, North Carolina, share a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
16/26
Nic Ruhl takes a pull on a giant hand rolled joint at precisely 4:20pm MDT during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
17/26
Various cannabis paraphernalia on display at a vendor’s stall during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
18/26
Mo Banez, of Austin, Texas, lights a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
19/26
A man displays a large container of cannabis during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado. The rally, held annually, is a celebration of both the legalisation of cannabis and cannabis culture. Colorado is one of twenty-six U.S. states along with the District of Columbia that has legalised the use of cannabis either recreationally or medically
AFP/Getty Images
20/26
Sitting in small groups on mats shaded by trees in the Rose Garden just across from the Knesset, participants lit up as the clock struck 4:20 for the local version of the traditional worldwide April 20 pro-marijuana events, known as '420′ rallies
Getty Images
21/26
An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden
Getty Images
22/26
Sitting in small groups on mats shaded by trees in the Rose Garden just across from the Knesset, participants lit up as the clock struck 4:20 for the local version of the traditional worldwide April 20 pro-marijuana events, known as '420′ rallies
Getty Images
23/26
An Israeli girl poses with a mock marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current laws
Getty Images
24/26
aelis pass around a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current laws
Getty Images
25/26
An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current law
Getty Images
26/26
An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem on April 20, 2017 during a rally opposite the Knesset to celebrate 420 and express defiance of current laws
AFP/Getty Images
1/26
A man wears a marijuana leaf mask during the annual 4/20 cannabis culture celebration at Sunset Beach in Vancouver, British Columbia
AP
2/26
A lady smokes marijuana on Parliament Hill on 4/20 in Ottawa, Ontario
Getty Images
3/26
James Reed smokes a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
4/26
People sign a 4/20 sign on Parliament Hill on in Ottawa, Ontario
Getty Images
5/26
A woman smokes marijuana on Parliament Hill on 4/20 in Ottawa, Ontario. Polling released showed strong support in Canada for a government drive to legalise recreational use of marijuana, but many would like the proposed minimum age for consumption to be raised. Sixty-three percent of respondents told the Angus Reid Institute they support legalisation
Getty Images
6/26
A man smokes marijuana during the annual 4/20 marijuana rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Reuters
7/26
Demonstrators smoke marijuana during the '4/20 Santiago’ rally in favour of legalisation in front of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, as part of the Global Marijuana March which is being held in hundreds of cities worldwide
Getty Images
8/26
People play with a mock marijuana joint during a 4/20 party to demand legalisation and to celebrate marijuana culture outside the Senate building in Mexico City, Mexico
Reuters
9/26
Adam Eidinger, co-founder of DCMJ, hands out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20′ day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Getty Images
10/26
11/26
Police arrest Rachel Ramone Donlan after she handed out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20′ day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
AFP/Getty Images
12/26
Police arrest Rachel Ramone Donlan after she handed out free marijuana joints to DC residents who worked on Capitol Hill as part of the 1st Annual Joint Session to mark '4/20′ day and promote legalising marijuana on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Getty Images
13/26
Thousands of people gather to smoke marijuana during the '420 Santiago’rally in front of the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago
Getty Images
14/26
People attend the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
15/26
Kevin Barron and Lasean Moore of Raleigh, North Carolina, share a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
16/26
Nic Ruhl takes a pull on a giant hand rolled joint at precisely 4:20pm MDT during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
17/26
Various cannabis paraphernalia on display at a vendor’s stall during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
18/26
Mo Banez, of Austin, Texas, lights a joint during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado
Getty Images
19/26
A man displays a large container of cannabis during the Denver 420 Rally at Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado. The rally, held annually, is a celebration of both the legalisation of cannabis and cannabis culture. Colorado is one of twenty-six U.S. states along with the District of Columbia that has legalised the use of cannabis either recreationally or medically
AFP/Getty Images
20/26
Sitting in small groups on mats shaded by trees in the Rose Garden just across from the Knesset, participants lit up as the clock struck 4:20 for the local version of the traditional worldwide April 20 pro-marijuana events, known as '420′ rallies
Getty Images
21/26
An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden
Getty Images
22/26
Sitting in small groups on mats shaded by trees in the Rose Garden just across from the Knesset, participants lit up as the clock struck 4:20 for the local version of the traditional worldwide April 20 pro-marijuana events, known as '420′ rallies
Getty Images
23/26
An Israeli girl poses with a mock marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current laws
Getty Images
24/26
aelis pass around a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current laws
Getty Images
25/26
An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem during a rally at the Rose garden, to celebrate 420 and to express their defiance of current law
Getty Images
26/26
An Israeli smokes a marijuana joint in Jerusalem on April 20, 2017 during a rally opposite the Knesset to celebrate 420 and express defiance of current laws
AFP/Getty Images
While New York has become the 16th to decriminalise the drug’s use, 11 states plus the Districts of Columbia, otherwise known was Washington DC, have legalised personal use. Its use remains a federal crime.
Those pushing for greater liberalisation welcomed the move, but urged legislators to go further. Some said there were still many negative consequences that come with having marijuana as an illegal violation.
Missouri police raid stage 4 pancreatic cancer patient’s hospital room for marijuana
“Police have historically found a way to work around the decriminalisation of marijuana,” said Erin George, of Citizen Action of New York.
People can still face probation violations and immigration consequences under the decriminalisation bill, she said.
The legislation signed by Mr Cuomo will make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana punishable by a fine of up to $50. Possession of two ounces will carry a fine of up to $200
The penalty is $50 for possessing less than one ounce of pot or a maximum of $200 for one to two ounces. It will go into affect in 30 days.