Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
New York Assembly members push forward plan to redress discriminatory harms of cannabis prohibition.
The New York State Assembly passed a bill Thursday, June 16, that will seal criminal records of people who have been arrested for simple marijuana possession.
The bipartisan vote, at 99 in favor and 42 opposed, aims to improve circumstances for communities of color where many individuals face significant barriers to education, employment and housing opportunities as a result of marijuana convictions and discriminatory policing, according to Drug Policy Alliance.
Assembly member Crystal Peoples-Stokes of Buffalo sponsored the bill with members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus.
"Communities of color have been devastated by bad drug policies and hyper-criminalization for the last 40 years. It is an approach that has never worked and has caused significantly more harm than good to our communities and to our families," Peoples-Stokes said.
"Sealing low-level marijuana possession convictions is the first step to reintegrating thousands of New Yorkers who are inhibited daily from accessing employment, housing and an education all due to a conviction on their record for simple possession of marijuana," she said.
Although New York State decriminalized simple marijuana possession in 1977, the decision to arrest or ticket an individual caught with marijuana is still at the discretion of individual officers.
According to Drug Policy Alliance, over 20,000 New Yorkers were arrested for simple marijuana possession in 2015, and 83 percent of those were black or Latino individuals.
"The inequality in the application of marijuana misdemeanor charges has failed far too many New Yorkers, and especially our youth," said assembly member Nick Perry, chairman of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus.
"This bill will bring greater fairness to our communities, particularly communities of color, which have suffered long enough from this injustice," he said.
Advocates now urge state Senators to pass a Senate companion bill sponsored by Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New York State Assembly Passes Landmark Bill To Seal Marijuana Convictions
Author: Emily Gray Brosious
Contact: 312-321-3000
Photo Credit: Spencer Platt
Website: Sun Times Network
The New York State Assembly passed a bill Thursday, June 16, that will seal criminal records of people who have been arrested for simple marijuana possession.
The bipartisan vote, at 99 in favor and 42 opposed, aims to improve circumstances for communities of color where many individuals face significant barriers to education, employment and housing opportunities as a result of marijuana convictions and discriminatory policing, according to Drug Policy Alliance.
Assembly member Crystal Peoples-Stokes of Buffalo sponsored the bill with members of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus.
"Communities of color have been devastated by bad drug policies and hyper-criminalization for the last 40 years. It is an approach that has never worked and has caused significantly more harm than good to our communities and to our families," Peoples-Stokes said.
"Sealing low-level marijuana possession convictions is the first step to reintegrating thousands of New Yorkers who are inhibited daily from accessing employment, housing and an education all due to a conviction on their record for simple possession of marijuana," she said.
Although New York State decriminalized simple marijuana possession in 1977, the decision to arrest or ticket an individual caught with marijuana is still at the discretion of individual officers.
According to Drug Policy Alliance, over 20,000 New Yorkers were arrested for simple marijuana possession in 2015, and 83 percent of those were black or Latino individuals.
"The inequality in the application of marijuana misdemeanor charges has failed far too many New Yorkers, and especially our youth," said assembly member Nick Perry, chairman of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus.
"This bill will bring greater fairness to our communities, particularly communities of color, which have suffered long enough from this injustice," he said.
Advocates now urge state Senators to pass a Senate companion bill sponsored by Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New York State Assembly Passes Landmark Bill To Seal Marijuana Convictions
Author: Emily Gray Brosious
Contact: 312-321-3000
Photo Credit: Spencer Platt
Website: Sun Times Network
