In New York City, there is increased media attention and public debate about both marijuana possession arrests and the New York City Police Department practice of "stop-and-frisk." As the number of stops and frisks have increased dramatically, so too have arrests for marijuana possession. Despite the fact that marijuana possession was decriminalized in New York in 1977, marijuana possession is now the number one arrest in New York City. More than 50,000 people were arrested for marijuana possession in 2010 alone, comprising one out of every seven arrests (15 percent).

Despite New York state decriminalizing marijuana possession in 1977, New York City is the marijuana arrest capital of the world. Recent changes in policing practices that take advantage of a loophole in the law led to over 50,000 marijuana possession arrests in 2010 and 2011. This issue brief examines New York's marijuana laws, the impact of policing policy and practices, and solutions that would save the state over $75 million a year.

Among other things, this bill would impose a fee of fifty dollars ($50) per ounce on the retail sale of marijuana in this state. The Board would be required to administer and collect the fee on or after a specified date, and the funds would be dedicated to drug education, awareness, and rehabilitation programs. This analysis only addresses the provisions which impact the State Board of Equalization.

Resolutions adopted at 2008 annual meeting.

This memorandum provides clarification and guidance to federal prosecutors in States that have enacted laws authorizing the medical use of marijuana. These laws vary in their substantive provisions and in the extent of state regulatory oversight, both among the enacting States and among local jurisdictions within those States. Rather than developing different guidelines for every possible variant of state and local law, this memorandum provides uniform guidance to focus federal investigations and prosecutions in these States on core federal enforcement priorities.