The criminalization of public cannabis use is detrimental to social progress and allows law enforcement to incarcerate Black people at disproportionate rates. As expected, New York City has seen a drastic reduction in marijuana-related arrests since the state implemented legalization laws, but these numbers are much lower than other jurisdictions with similar laws.
By legalizing public consumption of marijuana, NYC protects its citizens, namely those living in Black and Brown communities, from unfair, unreasonable, and in some cases even racially-driven marijuana arrests.
Adult-use marijuana may be legal in other states, but smoking the substance in public settings is not. In New York City, cannabis-use is permitted everywhere that tobacco is. Cannabis-related arrests are much higher in other legal states because they still prohibit public consumption without any exceptions. Luckily, NYC often sets a standard for other states to follow, so there’s hope that other states will eventually implement marijuana-consumption policies that mirror tobacco-consumption policies.
By continuing to enforce outdated marijuana laws, we are continuing the cruel cycle of incarceration, poverty, and homelessness, especially in Black and brown communities.
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