90% of NYPD Weed Arrests are from Minority Community

Nationally, just under 47% of weed arrests are from minority communities which only make up one third of the total US population. These in-proportionate numbers have raised serious concern among social justice groups as surveys show cannabis use to be equally split among cultural demographics. Even more concerning than the nationwide statistic, A report released by the NYPD on Monday shows that out of 291 people arrested for weed last quarter (an average of 3 eavery day) only 18 were white leaving the rest coming from minority communities.

Although overall cannabis arrests have dropped since NYC decriminalized cannabis this past summer, these numbers show that the blacks and Hispanic community is still being negatively affected at staggering rates to that of other races. Legal Aid Society, one of the biggest on-profit legal services in the city made a call for lawmakers to address this issue by fully legalizing cannabis.

Anthony Posada, supervising attorney of the community justice unit said "The human cost is too high." leaving the minority community at a heightened risk of imprisonment, brutal punishment and family separation.