Cuomo Seeks Decriminalization of Small Amounts of Marijuana

Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed a measure meant to reduce the number of people arrested for marijuana possession after they’ve been detained under the New York City Police Department’s so-called stop-and-frisk policy.

Cuomo, a 54-year-old Democrat, said today at a news conference in Albany that he wants legislators to decriminalize possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana that’s in public view. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he supports the change.

About 94 percent of the more than 50,000 arrests last year in the state for 25 or fewer grams of marijuana were in New York City, and 82 percent of those arrested were black or Hispanic, the governor said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-04/cuomo-said-to-seek-decriminalization-of-small-amounts-of-pot.html