Comments on: New York City: Whites smoke pot, but Blacks are arrested for it

By: New York City Councilmen protest racial disparity in marijuana arrests | The NORML Stash Blog

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:55:17 +0000

[...] marijuana arrestsBy "Radical" Russ Belville on August 18, 2011 We’ve reported many times on the racial disparity of marijuana arrests in New York City, which leads the world in annual marijuana arrests for major cities. It’s one of the [...]

By: Canabmd » Times Square Billboard From NORML Denied By CBS

Canabmd » Times Square Billboard From NORML Denied By CBS — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:26:55 +0000

[...] With great regret and chagrin to report, CBS has rejected a contract deal with NORML to place a pro-cannabis law reform advertisement on the biggest electronic billboard in Times Square (The CBS ‘Super Screen’ at 42nd St) claiming that the advertisement is too political. NORML had a contract for the 15 second spot below on the giant billboard (and a second one featuring President Obama and New York City’s high cannabis arrest rate with its shocking racial disparity in enforcement). [...]

By: "Radical" Russ Belville

"Radical" Russ Belville — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:02:42 +0000

No, I think we agree. The policing of low-level crime in NYC does seem to have made the city a better place. I’m just saying marijuana smoking shouldn’t be one of those low-level crimes. Yes, bust the turnstile jumpers, the subway taggers, the noise violations, and the public drunkenness – those are crimes. I’m even OK with busting people smoking pot in public (fine only, of course).

By: Times Square Billboard From NORML Denied By CBS : WeedBits

Times Square Billboard From NORML Denied By CBS : WeedBits — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:13:52 +0000

By: Axel

Axel — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:47:42 +0000

I live in Brooklyn and have gone through this AFTER 1994. So, I TOTALLY agree with what he is saying in this article. Cops would focus on certain areas and in order to fill their quota for the day they would issue as many tickets and arrests as possible. White people have connections that we don’t have. when WE buy it, it’s in the street or out of some house. The cops, usually from white neighborhoods, would RIGHT OFF THE BAT treat us like criminals…………..even if it was only a $5 nckel bag we got caught with.

Refreshing to hear it put so honestly. Wish everyone could be so conscious.

By: THC Facts | Marijuana News » Times Square Billboard From NORML Denied By CBS

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:38:30 +0000

By: fallibilist

fallibilist — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:44:35 +0000

Russ, I gotta disagree with this. NYC has had an over 75% reduction in homicides since they elected Giuliani in ’93 (took office in ’94). The city used to be a dirty, menacing, dangerous place.

I think a lot of stuff gets thrown together in “fixing broken windows.” For instance, they arrest people for things like skipping turnstiles, tagging subway cars, noise violations, and drinking in public now.

Honestly, I think that people should be able to walk in the street with joint just as easily as they walk around smoking a Marlboro. (Only the menthol, not the MJ, can kill you.) And people ought to be able to sell MJ brownies just as easily as they can sell a Long Island Iced Tea (with a license to those over twenty-one). AND, OBVIOUSLY, NO ONE SHOULD BE TARGETED FOR BEING THE WRONG COLOR.

But, honestly, there’s an inescapable question about what qualifies as “a broken window.” Laws against marijuana target a totally non-violent act of commerce and the healthful herb associated with it.

But as for fighting small fires before the forest is ablaze (not in a good way), I’m down with that too.

By: Stash for Mon, Dec 28, 2009 | NORML Daily Audio Stash

Stash for Mon, Dec 28, 2009 | NORML Daily Audio Stash — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:01:07 +0000

[...] New York City: Whites smoke pot, but Blacks are arrested for it [...]