(Albany, NY) The Senate today passed legislation that will address the racial disparities that are present in New York’s antiquated marijuana drug laws. New York’s existing marijuana laws disproportionately affect the African American and Latinx communities. This monumental legislation will decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and establish procedures for record expungements for both past and future convictions.
“Communities of color have borne the brunt of New York State’s marijuana drug laws. Our justice system directly reflects who we are as a society and that is why the Senate Majority is taking action to fix this broken system,” Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “This legislation is marking a momentous first step in addressing the racial disparities caused by the war on drugs. The Senate Majority continues to move forward on full legalization and I thank Senator Jamaal Bailey for his leadership on this issue.”
Bill Sponsor, Senator Jamaal Bailey said, “In New York State, people of color are disproportionately arrested for marijuana possession. The misdemeanor charge for public view of marijuana possession gives those people convicted a criminal record that will follow them throughout their lives, potentially limiting their access to housing, access to education, affecting their ability to obtain employment, all leading to a potential inability to provide for their families. While this legislation falls short of the goal of legalization of adult-use cannabis, the ability to create a mechanism for expungement, both retroactively and forward-looking, is a step in the right direction in finally ending the heavy-handed war on drugs that has decimated communities of color.”
African-American and Latinx individuals are arrested at higher rates for misdemeanor marijuana possessions. In New York City, African-Americans are eight times more likely to be arrested on low-level marijuana charges and Latinx people are arrested at five times more. The racial disparities for arrests are wider for cities in Upstate, NY. According to the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), African Americans living in Schenectady County are 74 times more likely to be arrested on a marijuana charge.
Hipz on June 21st, 2019 at 14:24 UTC »
I always wondered what exactly is stopping states from taking an example from say Colorado. I’m not super informed on the subject but legalization seems to have generated a massive amount of tax money, drug overdoses have gone down and crime didn’t increase. Only thing I can think if lobbying from things like the pharmaceutical industries and others? I’m learning more about politics but not as informed as I should be.
Edit: thanks for all the replies, interesting stuff. I can’t reply to them all but I’m reading them!
donkeypunchblowjobs on June 21st, 2019 at 14:23 UTC »
I got pulled over a few years ago on 684 with less than a gram of marijuana, the cop didnt care about that.
But he arrested me for having a weed pen that was basically empty. I guess it was classified schedule 7 - the same as possession as heroin. Fucking. Bullshit.
It wasn't actually mine - it was my wife's, which was in her purse. But i wasn't gonna let her get in trouble for that - she was applying to get her master's and I didn't want it to ruin her chances. So I took the bullet.
After 6 months I went to court and after a year probation period it was put under seal. Still had to spend thousands on a lawyer and had to go to a drug counselor for that whole period. I also lived in CT at the time and had to travel to Brewster twice a week for the counseling - about an hour away.
And this is as someone who is a white male - POC get locked the fuck away.
The war on drugs is so fucking stupid.
Edit: don’t talk to the cops y’all
https://youtu.be/d-7o9xYp7eE
sh1nes on June 21st, 2019 at 14:09 UTC »
This is just them pretending to do something so they can pander to special interests by stopping legalization efforts.