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Cities across the country -- from New York to Santa Cruz, Calif. -- are considering or have already banned smoking at parks and beaches. I am afraid that issuing tickets to people for smoking outdoors could easily be abused by overzealous law enforcement.

Let's look at how New York handles another "decriminalized" drug in our state: marijuana. Despite decriminalizing marijuana more than 30 years ago, New York is the marijuana arrest capital of the world.

If possession of marijuana is supposed to be decriminalized in New York, how does this happen? Often it's because, in the course of interacting with the police, individuals are asked to empty their pockets, which results in the pot being "open to public view" -- which is, technically, a crime.

More than 40,000 people were arrested in New York City last year for marijuana possession, and 87 percent of those arrested were black or Latino, despite equal rates of marijuana use among whites. The fact is that blacks and Latinos are arrested for pot at much higher rates in part because officers make stop-and-frisk searches disproportionately in black, Latino and low-income neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, when we make laws and place restrictions on both legal and illegal drugs, people of color are usually the ones busted. Drug use may not discriminate, but our drug policies and enforcement do.

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Fucking rediculous

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More than 40,000 people were arrested in New York City last year for marijuana possession, and 87 percent of those arrested were black or Latino, despite equal rates of marijuana use among whites. The fact is that blacks and Latinos are arrested for pot at much higher rates in part because officers make stop-and-frisk searches disproportionately in black, Latino and low-income neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, when we make laws and place restrictions on both legal and illegal drugs, people of color are usually the ones busted. Drug use may not discriminate, but our drug policies and enforcement do.

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durian_2008 said:

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More than 40,000 people were arrested in New York City last year for marijuana possession, and 87 percent of those arrested were black or Latino, despite equal rates of marijuana use among whites. The fact is that blacks and Latinos are arrested for pot at much higher rates in part because officers make stop-and-frisk searches disproportionately in black, Latino and low-income neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, when we make laws and place restrictions on both legal and illegal drugs, people of color are usually the ones busted. Drug use may not discriminate, but our drug policies and enforcement do.

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I thought this part was particularly interesting, because it shows that abolitionist, moral paranoia was completely beside the point.

I believe the authorities harass people, who are genuinely friendly.

Probable cause comes later.

They used to pick employed people off the street, charge them with indigence, and force them to labor for free.

These men cooperated and were abused anyway.

I am not considered a minority. I don't have a bad reputation, but I feel sorry for people who are so easily taken advantage of.

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pwnasaurus said:
Very well written!  I love his writing style and tone, it's well done.

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The new regulation halted the sale of vanilla and chocolate cigarettes that anti-smoking advocates claim lure young people into smoking.

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that sounds so dumb. not a single kid cares how it tastes or what its called, 90 percent of the people i know that smoked started because their friends smoked and for some dumb reason they think it makes them look cool if it aint green i dont smoke it

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durian_2008 said:
IMHO --
Licensing requirements, across the entire spectrum of goods and services, are a form of prohibition.

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ShroomerRoss said:

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The new regulation halted the sale of vanilla and chocolate cigarettes that anti-smoking advocates claim lure young people into smoking.

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that sounds so dumb. not a single kid cares how it tastes or what its called, 90 percent of the people i know that smoked started because their friends smoked and for some dumb reason they think it makes them look cool if it aint green i dont smoke it

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Tobacco