Nixon: Support for legalizing marijuana use a racial issue

According to 2017 statistics compiled by the state, blacks accounted for 48 per cent of arrests in New York City for the lowest level of marijuana possession, while Latinos accounted for 38 per cent, compared to 9 per cent for whites.

In two interviews last week, Nixon mentioned supporting the legalization of recreational marijuana because of revenue reasons.

Nixon said during an interview on Wendy Williams’ nationally syndicated TV talk show that marijuana should be legalized to “capture some of that revenue” but she didn’t mention race as a reason to legalize it. In an interview conducted a few days later with The New York Times, she referred to legalized recreational marijuana use as a “moneymaker” and a “justice issue.”

The Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner entered the governor’s race last month to challenge two-term incumbent Andrew Cuomo in September’s Democratic primary. Much of her early campaign efforts have focused on black and Latino communities in New York City, traditionally a stronghold for the Queens-born Cuomo.

A group advocating decriminalization of pot in New York supports Nixon’s contention that there’s a stark disparity in the number of whites busted for marijuana crimes, compared to minorities.

“White people do get arrested for marijuana, but what we’re saying is you’re more likely to get arrested for marijuana if you’re black or Latino,” said Kassandra Frederique, New York state director for the Drug Policy Alliance.

Bills to legalize recreational marijuana use have stalled in New York’s Legislature, where Democrats control the Assembly and yearslong Republican control of the Senate is likely to shift to Democrats this year. Lawmakers supporting legalization say the potential tax revenue stream is considerable since it’s estimated that New Yorkers spend $3 billion a year on marijuana.

Cuomo has been dubious about legalizing pot beyond limited medical use of non-smokeable forms. But he has directed the state Department of Health to conduct a study on the health, economic and criminal justice impacts legalized marijuana could have across New York, especially now that neighbouring Vermont and Massachusetts have legalized it.

“We announced months ago that we were going to study the legalization issue precisely for that reason,” Cuomo told reporters Wednesday at a Long Island event. “You have Massachusetts, you have New Jersey talking about it — that would be a fundamentally different situation for the state of New York.”

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This story has been changed to remove a reference that a marijuana study was included in state budget; it was not.

Chris Carola, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Nixon: Support for legalizing marijuana use a racial issue

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