NYC Pot Arrest Capital of the world...if you're black

[Phil Smith]

NYC Marijuana Possession Arrests Skyrocket, Illustrate NYPD Racial Bias, New Report Shows | New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) - American Civil Liberties Union of New York State

…racially skewed. From 1997 to 2007 police arrested and jailed nearly 220,000 blacks, more than 112,000 Latinos, but only 58,000 whites. Over that period, whites represented the largest percentage of the city’s population. Government surveys consistently show a higher rate of marijuana use among young whites than in other racial groups.

Discuss...

[Sav'nBass]

This is not new.. the Rockefeller Drug laws in N.Y. basically did the same thing... That's why in the 80s if you got caught with two grams of crack you got more time than the guy with the ounce of powder..

[basstotheface]

Originally Posted by Sav'nBass

This is not new.. the Rockefeller Drug laws in N.Y. basically did the same thing... That's why in the 80s if you got caught with two grams of crack you got more time than the guy with the ounce of powder..

Came to post the exact same thing, this country has a history of racist drug laws.

[waleross]

Besides the Rockerfeller law, there was Tip O'Neal and Pres. Reagan that passed the madatory min. for first time offenders.....

[Phil Smith]

The part some of you may be missing is that marijuana possesion is decriminalized here, but certain police tactics are used to raise possesion to an arrestable offense.

[MJ5150]

Maybe the young white guys are staying home to get high while the blacks and latinos are not?

-Mike

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

The part some of you may be missing is that marijuana possesion is decriminalized here, but certain police tactics are used to raise possesion to an arrestable offense.

If it makes you feel better, as a white New Yorker, I was caught by the cops for having pot once. They told me to throw it out.

[Kwesi]

I think it's because there aren't many other places where you can have an open, honest, candid and well moderated discussion. People can speak their minds within reason and get their points across without having to worry about some jackass flying off the handle and when that does happen the moderators clean things up. It's nice to be able to talk about interesting subjects without douchebags ruining it for everyone and you can do that in OT... most of the time

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Maybe the young white guys are staying home to get high while the blacks and latinos are not?

-Mike

Actually you have to look at where they're arresting these people. Generally they'll just drive through the poorer neighborhoods (which are usually black and latino) and stop and frisk people. Chances are that they'll find something too so they can continue to justify using racial profiling. I live in a crappy neighborhood and people walk around in day light smoking blunts (thats cigars filled with weed for you old folks) everywhere.

[Muddslide]

Legalize it already.

Legalize it, regulate it and tax the bejeebus out of it.

I gave it up back in 1998 when I became a father and don't even miss it, so I am not pro-legalization because I want to smoke.

I'm pro-legalization because people shouldn't be made out to be criminals for smoking pot, becaue adults in a free society should be free to do pretty much whatever they want as long as it doesn't impinge on the rights of others and because it is the #1 cash crop in several states, is readily available already for those who want it and it could go some distance in easing our economic woes.

2 cents there.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Actually you have to look at where they're arresting these people. Generally they'll just drive through the poorer neighborhoods (which are usually black and latino) and stop and frisk people. Chances are that they'll find something too so they can continue to justify using racial profiling. I live in a crappy neighborhood and people walk around in day light smoking blunts (thats cigars filled with weed for you old folks) everywhere.

You are right about the police targeting certain neighborhoods, but actually the majority of African American and Latino stop and frisk subjects come up clean when frisked, political pressure maintains the practice, not arrests.

My advice to young black men is to simply leave pot alone. You will not catch the breaks that others will if you get caught with it, and Lord knows, you don't need a record, it's hard enough to get a job as it is!

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by Muddslide

....and tax the bejeebus out of it.

I aplolgize in advance, this is a major hyjack of the thread. But...

Why? How does that benefit the end user?
Creating another income syphon, sin tax with attendant bureaucracy isn't the answer. It would only serve to further imbed the current ridiculously high price structure. Example, If you have a Medical card and go to the dispenspries in San Francisco, the prices are just slightly lower than black market. How does this help people who really do use it as medicine?

It seems to me their current state of affairs is more of a "wink, wink, nod, nod" to supplying the local black market than it is to offering an alternative to opiate based pain killers for long term use. The situation is a joke. Why play this game? Obviously a large number of Adults want to smoke it socially, so let them. (if your a kid, sorry. You shouldn't be drinking either.)

The truth is, it is a very cheap, very easy crop to grow; if a farmer is allowed to grow it like corn. It is afterall just a weed (no pun intended)

1) Legalize it, this matter falls under an individual's personal right to the pursuit of happiness.

2) Drop the price down to where it should be, thereby removing it from the black market as unprofitable for organized crime. You don't see black market corn do you? That would actually assist the governments of the world by freeing up resources they could then refocus on more important matters. The international gangs would also have to refocus on something else and would leave our National Forests and BLM land alone.

Additional benefits:
The waste by-products of medicinal grade pot are used to make other medicinal products, like brownies for people who need to consume it that way.

Industrial grade hemp is a viable, renewable resource for paper and cloth products. Much greener than trees and historically American.

[Phil Smith]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

You are right about the police targeting certain neighborhoods, but actually the majority of African American and Latino stop and frisk subjects come up clean when frisked, political pressure maintains the practice, not arrests.

In 2007, 87 percent of the people stopped and frisked were innocent of any wrong doing.

My advice to young black men is to simply leave pot alone. You will not catch the breaks that others will if you get caught with it, and Lord knows, you don't need a record, it's hard enough to get a job as it is!

The possesion of the pot is decriminalized what isn't decriminalized is having it in open view which is what happens when the police tell you to turn out your pockets and you have some pot. Without the pot in open view you get a ticket, with the pot in open view you get arrested because it is a misdemeanor.

[Phil Smith]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

If it makes you feel better, as a white New Yorker, I was caught by the cops for having pot once. They told me to throw it out.

Obvioulsy you haven't read what was in the link and what was said here and you also prove the point, you were caught by the cops, you had pot, they told to throw it out, BUT...

THEY DIDN'T ARREST YOU!

[Phil Smith]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Maybe the young white guys are staying home to get high while the blacks and latinos are not?

-Mike

Maybe the police aren't stopping and frisking young white guys even though there are more of them in the population. If 87 percent of the people you stop and frisk don't have anything on them and have doen nothing wrong at the very least what you're doing is not effective but then when you factor in the race component you know there's something very wrong here.

[metalstorm]

They arrest people for pot?

[baba]

Originally Posted by metalstorm

They arrest people for pot?

Draconian isn't it?

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

Maybe the police aren't stopping and frisking young white guys even though there are more of them in the population. If 87 percent of the people you stop and frisk don't have anything on them and have doen nothing wrong at the very least what you're doing is not effective but then when you factor in the race component you know there's something very wrong here.

Yes, but as GE mentioned, it is very effective to frisk those in the poor neighborhoods. If the success rate is higher there, then I see no reason to stop doing it.

-Mike

[Floyd Eye]

What is the population of New York city, broke down by race? Are whites a majority in that city? Just curious.

[Phil Smith]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

What is the population of New York city, broke down by race? Are whites a majority in that city? Just curious.

Census Numbers:

New York (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

White 44.7 %
Black 26.6%
Hispanic 27%