CANNABIS CONTROL

Bloomberg Supports Fewer Pot Arrests

To reduce frequency of stop-and-frisk policy.

Just don’t get caught toking up on the street corner. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has backed a proposal by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reduce the number of arrests for marijuana possession, which have increased under the Bloomberg administration’s stop-and-frisk policy. Implemented to crack down on more serious crimes, the policy has been criticized for resulting in unfair charges and racial profiling. Cuomo plans to urge lawmakers to adapt state law so that those caught with pot in their pockets will only be fined $100 rather than be charged with a misdemeanor. Bloomberg says the proposal “strikes a fair balance” because police can still arrest people caught in the act.