Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) released the following statement on the New York Police Department’s change to its minor marijuana possession arrest policy: 
 
“This change appears to be a step in the right direction and a good-faith attempt by the Mayor to achieve a more equitable approach to minor marijuana possession in New York City. However, the new policy must be enforced equitably across all races.  

To the extent the police department continues to disproportionately enforce the law in black and Latino communities, any administrative change on minor marijuana possession will constitute window-dressing in the name of reform. The policy must be accompanied by the NYPD’s willingness to treat everyone equally.”
 
                                                                                                                                                                                     

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Rep. Jeffries (D-NY) is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Bi-Partisan Task Force on Over-Criminalization