Recreational Marijuana Use Legalized Just 45 Minutes From Albany

Of course there are a few rules and regulations coming into play but here's what we know so far...

Yesterday voters in Massachusetts voted YES to the legalization of recreational marijuana use in the state. A state that also just so happens to border ours and that you can get to in about a 45 minute drive from the Capital Region.

Now if you were hoping to jump in the car and cross the border to indulge immediately you might want to pump your breaks a bit.

Nothing actually changes until December 15th and even then things are a little iffy. On December 15th, 2016 possession, use, and purchase of 1 ounce or less of marijuana for adults 21 and older is technically legal. I say technically because even then the state is in what they are calling a "legal grey zone" because the state has no facility to buy marijuana for recreational use legally until Jan. 1, 2018, when retail shops can open for business.

Plus they still have to come up with a way to regulate how high is too high to drive and all  the "rules and regulations" I was telling you about earlier. So they're not quite there yet but they are making progress. According to the Boston Globe the following rules are still in place:

Marijuana consumption remains banned in public places, and smoking it will still be prohibited anywhere tobacco smoking is forbidden. Landlords will be empowered to keep their tenants from smoking a joint at home.

So if you plan on visiting Massachusetts for the sole purpose of sparking up a doobie you might wait to wait a bit. I'm sure more details will be available in the coming months so we'll keep ya posted.