Proposal would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana
Published on 3/6/16
The city of Buffalo has shown interest in following in New York City's steps and decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. The proposal would allow adults to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, and grow up to six plants in their home. Supporters are tired of minorities being targeted for small time possession while statistics have shown all races use marijuana at the same rate. Legislators opposing the proposal are not confident it will pass, but advocates say they will keep pushing for policy reform as long as possession arrests are still primarily minorities.
"A 19 year old kid who is pinched for a small amount of marijuana, that he's tarred for the rest of his life and he's generally a good kid, you know, I don't think we should crucify people like that I think there should be some justice and some common sense as far as that goes," says Franczyk.
"Yes, we will always keep trying as long as we see that more than four-hundred people within the city of Buffalo are being arrested and that more than 75-percent of them are minorities, I will keep fighting to make sure that we have some kind of reform of the laws or that there is some kind of information kind of conversation within the government," says Baney.