In an unprecedented move, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance dropped more than 3,000 pending marijuana smoking and possession cases dating back to the 1970’s.
Vance appeared before New York City Criminal Court Judge Kevin McGrath on Wednesday to vacate 3,042 outstanding warrants and toss underlying charges in an effort to address racial disparities in the criminal prosecution on marijuana cases, Reuters reported.
Earlier this year, District Attorney Cyrus Vance’s office announced it would no longer prosecute marijuana smoking and possession cases. (Image courtesy of NY Daily News)
“By vacating these warrants, we are preventing unnecessary future interactions with the criminal justice system,” Vance said in court, later telling reporters that “we made the decision that it is really in the interest of justice.”
The DA argued that dismissing the charges would lighten the burden of drug cases for his office, as well as the court system. It’s also part of a nationwide effort to decriminalize or legalize the popular drug.
According to ABC 7, Vance’s decision follows a new NYPD policy issuing summons to those caught smoking pot in public. The policy shift is expected to reduce marijuana arrests in the city by 10,000 each year, mostly among Black and Latino populations.
Of the defendants whose cases were tossed, 79 percent are New Yorkers of color and 46 percent were 25 years old or younger when they were arrested.
It should be noted, however, that the DA’s decision only applies to misdemeanor and violation cases where the defendant failed to show up to court. It does not cover cases where a defendant was convicted or upgraded to more serious charges.
McGrath ordered that the cases be sealed within 90 days.
Watch more in the clip below.
