{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "222.50", "citation": "Penal Law § 222.50", "heading": "Criminal sale of cannabis in the third degree", "text": ["§ 222.50 Criminal sale of cannabis in the third degree.", "A person is guilty of criminal sale of cannabis in the third degree when:", "1. he or she knowingly and unlawfully sells more than three ounces of cannabis or more than twenty-four grams of concentrated cannabis; or", "2. being twenty-one years of age or older, he or she knowingly and unlawfully sells or gives, or causes to be given or sold, cannabis or concentrated cannabis to a person less than twenty-one years of age; except that in any prosecution under this subdivision, it is a defense that the defendant was less than three years older than the person under the age of twenty-one at the time of the offense. This subdivision shall not apply to designated caregivers, practitioners, employees of a registered organization or employees of a designated caregiver facility acting in compliance with article three of the cannabis law.", "Criminal sale of cannabis in the third degree is a class A misdemeanor."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/222.50", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits third-degree criminal sale of cannabis by:\n- **(1)** knowingly and unlawfully selling **more than 3 ounces of cannabis or more than 24 grams of concentrated cannabis**; or\n- **(2)** while **21 years old or older**, knowingly and unlawfully selling or giving, or causing to be sold or given, cannabis or concentrated cannabis to someone **younger than 21 years**. ★ It is a defense to part (2) that the defendant was **less than 3 years older**; that part also excludes listed medical-cannabis actors complying with Cannabis Law article 3.\nThe offense is a **class A misdemeanor**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/222.50", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}