New York City’s police department’s previous policy on marijuana is officially gone.
The NYPD’s new rule went into effect over the weekend on Saturday where people who are caught today with a small amount of marijuana will not be handcuffed and arrested but instead given a summons.
The new directive is anticipated to reduce the number of arrests city-wide and also save officers hours of paperwork.
NYPD officers will still be able to arrest offenders, especially ones with active warrants or on parole or probation. The officers can also arrest anyone that is considered violent.
“We are going to see a humongous drop in people in communities of color being arrested for marijuana,” said NYPD Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison last Thursday.
There’s are already some people not thrilled with the new rule.
Queens Councilman Rory Lancman said, “Unfortunately the mayor’s policing and prosecution policy on marijuana still excludes people with prior involvement with the criminal justice system.”
David Holland, an attorney and marijuana advocate also shared his worries and said, “You run the risk of also creating debtors prisons. You will have someone who doesn’t pay a fine, all of a sudden have a warrant out for their arrest.”
