pot
Hempstead, NY (77WABC)-Nassau County DA Madelyn Singas has announced that warrants related to more than 1,100 marijuana-related cases are dismissed.
The DA says her office moved to drop charges related to the pot possession cases following NY State’s legalization of recreational marijuana. Also, the repeal of the 1970s-era prostitution law.
Newsday reported that the hearing in Nassau District Court “administratively vacated” the warrants at the behest of Singas.
In a statement, Singassaid, “We began to review certain outstanding warrants months ago because outstanding warrants can impact a person’s ability to work or secure housing if they appear during a background check. By removing this obstacle, people can resume their lives without worrying about potential repercussions.”
Of the cases, approximately 900 were concerning marijuana possession, while the rest involved charges related to prostitution.
In February of this year, elected officials repealed a decades-old law against loitering for the purpose of prostitution that critics claimed had been enforced with bias.
Last month, a law was passed legalizing the possession and use of recreational marijuana by adults. In February, elected officials repealed a decades-old law against loitering for the purpose of prostitution that critics claimed had been enforced with bias, particularly against transgender women of color.
As of March 31st of this year, cannabis in New York is legal for recreational and medical use. Adults aged 21+ are allowed to possess up to 3 ounces (85 g) of cannabis or 0.85 ounces (24 g) of concentrated cannabis. The bill was signed into law by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on March 31, 2021.
