re: #39 makeitstop

I don’t think they’ve been arresting simple possession/smoking cases for a few years now.

I was caught dead to rights taking a pull off a bowl on Stanton Street on the Lower East Side three years ago. I made direct eye contact with a cop in a cruiser just as I was lighting up.

They pulled me to the car, made me empty my pockets and show ID, then let me go. They were really nice about it, they even gave me the bowl and lighter back when they were done.

I do agree with vacating convictions, though. That mistake has been screaming t be fixed for years.

I just read this 2 days ago.

nytimes.com

Surest Way to Face Marijuana Charges in New York: Be Black or Hispanic
The police explanation that more black and Hispanic people are arrested on marijuana charges because complaints are high in their neighborhoods doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.