Cannabis arrests fall in New York City though racial disparities persist

by Meg Ellis

According to reports, the steep drop is attributable, in part, to new NYPD marijuana enforcement guidelines that took effect in September of this year.

Percentage-wise, 151 arrests are less than 10 percent of the 1,500-plus arrests that occurred during the same time last year, and only 3 percent of the 4,300-plus arrests that took place less approximately eight years ago.

“The 90 [percent] drop in marijuana arrests in New York City is a positive development that will have a profound impact in the lives of New Yorkers,” said Frederique in a statement. “But that is not enough. There are still racial disparities in the 1,000-plus summons that were handed out in September for marijuana possession, which can turn into open warrants and have harmful impacts, which advocates and City Council will continue to examine.”

Unfortunately, racial disparities continue to exist in the summonses issued for marijuana. Like the “stop and frisk” policies before them, summonses continue to harm the Black and Latinx communities. Black and Latinx people made up 80 percent of the 1,000 summonses New York courts issued for marijuana-related offenses.

“As New York finally works to end the marijuana arrest crusade, we need our leaders to work to repair the damage that was done during the war on marijuana — that means clearing records and addressing the devastating impact these arrests have had on people’s housing, employment, education, and families,” Frederique said in a statement.

As momentum for marijuana reform continues to build in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo endorsed legalization and established a workgroup to draft legislation which would address marijuana legalization.

Director Frederique is encouraged by the momentum but warned against post-election season stagnation.

“As New York State is on the brink of legalizing marijuana, we are also clear that [Gov.] Cuomo and the legislature must build an adult-use program that ensures equity and diversity and reinvests in the communities that were hardest hit by marijuana enforcement,” she said in a statement. “The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act does all of these things. [Gov.] Cuomo and the new Democratic majority need to take action right away.”

The bill would also create the New York state marijuana revenue fund and the New York state community grants fund, which marijuana tax sales would help fund.

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