Drug offenders to get marijuana licences first

(CNN) —  People impacted by the criminalization of marijuana may be the first to get the go ahead to sell pot in New York. 

New York regulators are reportedly giving preference for licences to those who have been convicted previously for marijuana related crimes.

It’s an effort to right the wrongs of those convicted and a way to keep large companies from taking over the market. 

Laws legalizing marijuana use in New York went into effect earlier this year. 

New York is the first state to offer its first licenses to those with marijuana convictions.