It’s not easy being a smoker in NYC. They ban smoking (everything) in bars and clubs. They clean up Washington Square park (have you been by there lately? smh). They are constantly raiding blocks in Washington Heights. Now news comes down that weed possession is the number one cause of arrest in NYC. On average, nearly 140 people are arrested every day for marijuana possession in NYC, according to stats released by the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services and obtained by the Drug Policy Alliance.
This dramatic rise in marijuana arrests is not the result of increased marijuana use, which peaked nationally around 1980 according to data collected by the U.S. government. Over the last twenty years, NYPD has quietly made arrests for marijuana their top enforcement priority, without public acknowledgement or debate. This is the sixth year in a row with an increase in marijuana possession arrests. In 2005, there were 29,752 such arrests, and in 2010, there were 50,383, a 41 percent increase. Since Michael Bloomberg came into office in 2002, there have been 350,000 arrests for low-level marijuana offenses in NYC.
The real bullshit is HOW people are arrested for possession in NYC:
Possessing a small amount of marijuana in one’s pocket or bag is a legal violation, not a criminal offense. But quite often, when police stop and question a person, they say “empty your pockets” or “open your bag.” Many people comply with the officer’s request. If a person pulls marijuana from their pocket or bag, it makes the marijuana “open to public view,” a crime. The police then arrest the person for this misdemeanor. In 2009, the NYPD stopped and questioned over 575,000 people — 84% of them people of color. Over 325,000 of those stops resulted in frisks. Fewer than 12% of those encounters resulted in a summons or arrest.
Now according to Gothamist the solution is simple:
if you’re holding, just politely decline to empty your pockets. The officer will defer to your nuanced grasp of the law and respect your right to privacy, and you’ll be on your merry way!
Now we here at Kush and OJ pride ourselves on keepin it 100 so to Gothamist I say get the Fuck Outta Here With That Bullshit. I’m a born and bred (african american) NY smoker that spent over 24 hours in central bookings for a few grams of weed. My car was searched without probable cause. These lying ass pigs said in the police report that reason for search was they “smelled marijuana” even though I NEVER smoke in the whip.
Locked up with me where a handfull of young black and latino men arrested for possession among other things. 80% of my smoking associates have similar tales of bullshit arrest. Like I’ve said before, as smokers of color we know the realities we face, and the only real way to fight against this bullshit is politically.
For more information on the news and how you can fight it check the Drug Policy Alliance website.
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