New Yorkers Are Systematically Screwed By "Public View" Marijuana Law. These Are Their Stories (Part One)
Categories: Weed
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| Drug Policy Alliance |
| This is Andre. He was stopped, frisked, illegally searched and charged with burning marijuana - even though he didn't possess any marijuana and (claims) he doesn't even use it. |
As it stands, if you're busted with weed in private, you've committed a violation that's about as serious a crime as a parking ticket. However, if you're caught with weed in public, it's a misdemeanor. The loophole has led to the disproportionate arrests of young minorities (of the roughly 50,000 people arrested each year in New York for low-level marijuana offenses, 87 percent are black or Hispanic).
The Drug Policy Alliance has put together a 15-part series of interviews with people explaining how they were screwed by the "public view" portion of New York's marijuana law. Hear the stories of "Andre" and "Colyssa" below -- and check back tomorrow for the next installment New Yorker's Screwed By "Public View" Weed Laws.
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