Lawsuit Accuses Police of Ignoring Directive on Marijuana Arrests

The New York Times (US)
Friday, June 22, 2012

Nine months ago, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly issued a memorandum directing police officers not to make arrests for possession of small quantities of marijuana discovered when suspects are ordered to empty their pockets in stop, question and frisk encounters. But police officers have continued to charge New Yorkers with misdemeanor crimes — rather than issuing them tickets for violations — for possession of small amounts of marijuana despite Mr. Kelly’s directive, according to a lawsuit filed by the Legal Aid Society.