New York Marijuana Policy Shifts To Tickets Instead Of Arrests [Video]

New York Police Commissioner William Bratton announced Monday that officers will now be allowed to issue a summons for certain low-level marijuana offenses, rather than making an arrest.

As previously reported by theInquisitr, the announcement follows the events of last week’s election where several states have either elected to decriminalize possession or legalize sale of the drug for medical or recreational use, but the IRS is already doing its best to kill any marijuana business profits.

The New York Police Department’s (NYPD) marijuana policy now allows Criminal Court summonses for anyone found in possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana in a public place open to view. Such offenders could just get a $100 summons, instead of the previous standard of being handcuffed, fingerprinted, photographed, and being arraigned in court.

The policy change reflects Mayor Bill de Blasio ‘s pledge to repair relations between police and minority residents.

“This policy will allow officers, in the case where they do find it appropriate to give a summons, to continue on with their work,” de Blasio said.

It is not clear what will be the decision threshold an NYPD officer will consider before deciding between summons or arrest. State law currently stipulates that 25 grams or less leads to a misdemeanor count, over 25 grams is a felony.

The discontinuation of arrests for small-scale marijuana possession will most benefit minorities, who made up 86 percent of such arrests in the first eight months of this year, according to a recent study.

Possession is one thing, but with New York’s new marijuana policy, individuals caught burning or smoking cannabis will still be subject to arrest, Police Commissioner Bratton said. Any person with an active warrant out for his or her arrest or cannot produce proper identification may also be arrested for minor pot offenses.

[Image courtesy of Elitedaily.com]