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Brooklyn DA moves to decriminalize marijuana possession

More than 50 percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana.

By Aileen Graef

NEW YORK, April 24 (UPI) -- Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson says his office will no longer prosecute people caught in possession of small amounts of weed.

"When a defendent has neither a criminal record nor an open arrest or warrant, it makes no sense for the criminal justice system, including the District Attorney's Office, to devote its scarce resources to lengthy case processing," said Thompson's office in a statement.

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A law similar to the DA's initiative has been passed by the Washington D.C. council that decriminalizes possession of an ounce or less of marijuana.

Thompson also mentioned that the arrests for possession of small amounts of marijuana are discriminatory and disproportionate to young people of color. Two years ago, a study showed that black people in Brooklyn were nine times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people. More than two-thirds of these cases were dismissed, resulting in a waste of resources.

This may not have as much of an impact because even though Thompson said his office will no longer prosecute the cases, that does not mean the NYPD will stop arresting people for possession.

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