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Low-Level Marijuana Arrests Went Down 22 Percent In NYC In 2012
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 16, 2013
Modified Feb 16, 2013
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Feb 16, 2013
Modified Feb 16, 2013
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Until Bloomberg just chills out, man, and learns to deal with a little extra kick in his THC, New York probably won't get legal weed anytime soon. But on the bright side, low-level marijuana arrests decreased by nearly a quarter this year—and with Hizzoner's and Gov. Cuomo's recent pushes for drug law reform, the city may eventually see a shift in how marijuana is handled in the legal system.
Or not—according to data put out by the Division of Criminal Justice Services, more New Yorkers still got picked up for low-level marijuana crimes than any other offense in the city, with 39,000 people arrested for minor pot possession last year. And while it hasn't been a crime to possess less than 25 grams of weed as long as it's "out of sight" since 1977, getting caught with it out in the open will get you a trip to central booking and a likely misdemeanor charge. Over the years, low-level marijuana arrests have been climbing, which many have attributed to the NYPD's stop-and-frisk program. While officers aren't supposed to force civilians they're stopping to bring small amounts of marijuana out into the open, many have been accused of sidestepping that rule, leading to a likely increase in arrests.
Lately, both Bloomberg and Cuomo have started trying to alleviate laws governing small quantities of marijuana. In June, a bill they co-sponsored with Kelly called for decriminalizing open possession of under-25 grams of weed was shot down by Senate Republicans (surprise!); in Cuomo's State of State this year, he advocated for making open possession of 15 grams of marijuana or less to a mere violation, and Bloomberg echoed support for it in his State of the City. Meanwhile, New York has one of the highest rates of marijuana arrests in the county, so maybe it's time to start thinking of moving to Boulder.
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