Following an announcement made by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office on August 1, stating that they would no longer be arresting people for most cannabis offenses, DA Cyrus Vance showed up to court on Wednesday, September 12 to have a multitude of marijuana cases dismissed.
Appearing before New York City Criminal Court Judge Kevin McGrath, Vance dropped a total of 3,042 outstanding marijuana smoking and possession cases, some of which dated back to 1978.
“We made the decision that it is really in the interest of justice,” said Vance at a press conference. “We have to actually look at what resources we have, what the court has.”
Eligible cases included misdemeanors and violations where the defendant failed to show in court after being issued a warrant. Cases that resulted in a conviction or involved charges of selling marijuana did not qualify to be erased.
Cases are to be sealed within 90 days.
“By vacating these warrants,” said Vance. “We are preventing unnecessary future interactions with the criminal justice system.”
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced a new plan last week to erase tens of thousands of low-level marijuana cases. District attorneys from the other three boroughs have not announced any similar expungement plans as of yet.
