NY Repug worries that weed decriminalization will result in 10 joints in each ear

NY Sen Skelos is Against Pot Law Reform, Too Worried About People Carrying "10 Joints in Each Ear"


Following a storm of public criticism of illegal, racially biased marijuana arrests in New York City, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo publicly endorsed legislation to decriminalize marijuana "in public view" on Monday. In New York City, almost 50,000 people are arrested annually for marijuana arrests, and almost 90 percent of them are Black or Latino. Research consistently reveals that many of those arrested did not actually possess pot 'in public view', but had some weed in their pockets or back packs (which is decriminalized) that police placed into public view -- an arrestable, more serious offense -- during similarly racially-biased stop-and-frisks.

But despite widespread support for the legislation, including from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissione Ray Kelly, whose policies are targeted by the proposal, New York Senator and Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R) is speaking out against bipartisan plans to remove the 'in public view' loophole. He is worried that people with giant ears may carry massive amounts of weed behind them:

“Being able to just walk around with 10 joints in each ear, and it only be a violation, I think that’s wrong,” Skelos told reporters. But for someone so concerned with marijuana in public view, Skelos has not spoken out against the wide disparities in the law's enforcement. New York City accounts for about 50,000 of the 53,000 marijuana arrests annually, and white, suburban kids who hold weed in public seem to get away without any kind of charge. ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/939294/ny_sen_skelos_is_against_pot_law_reform%2C_too_worried_about_people_carrying_%2210_joints_in_each_ear%22/