Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance says starting Aug. 1, his office will no longer prosecute most arrests for marijuana possession or smoking.
Read our new "decline to prosecute" policy 👇🏽 https://t.co/83n5wgkimc
— Cyrus Vance, Jr. (@ManhattanDA) July 31, 2018
The two exceptions: cases where there's evidence that the individual was selling marijuana, and cases where the individual is deemed a public safety threat or is under investigation for a violent offense.
"You have to understand that looking backward, marijuana enforcement has wildly, disproportionately affected men and women of color in New York City, and in poor neighborhoods, and that the cases that are charged result really in no significant intervention or punishment at all," Vance told WNYC's Richard Hake. "So from our office's perspective, we believe that our resources are far better used focusing on more significant cases — misdemeanors like assault or stalking or driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana — than prosecuting cases where there is no benefit... or deterrent effect."
Next month, the New York Police Department will enforce a new marijuana enforcement strategy by issuing summonses, or tickets, in more cases instead of arresting people. Vance says he thinks this will reduce the overall number of arrests, but ultimately he believes that New York should consider legalizing marijuana sale and possession.
"I don't think [the legalization of marijuana] is going to pose a public safety threat for New Yorkers, and I think the net will be a fairer justice system," said Vance.
It's the latest in a growing movement to decriminalize marijuana. In July, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal ordered prosecutors in the state to pause marijuana prosecutions until September, and New York's Health Department issued a long-awaited report that recommended legalizing and regulating marijuana.