High times: Bloomberg says you won’t go to jail for pot any more

Good news everyone pot enthusiasts! While we can’t condone the deplorable practice of getting potted up with your friends or innocent young women you’re drawing into your reefer life, we also can’t say we’re fans of a system that throws people in jail and gives them a criminal record for it. Mike Bloomberg isn’t a fan either, and used his State of the City address, currently going on now, to announce the city’s new position on pot possession. In short, you won’t be going to jail anymore.

Quoth Hizzoner:

“But we know that there’s more we can do to keep New Yorkers, particularly young men, from ending up with a criminal record. Commissioner Kelly and I support Governor Cuomo’s proposal to make possession of small amounts of marijuana a violation, rather than a misdemeanor and we’ll work to help him pass it this year. But we won’t wait for that to happen.

“Right now, those arrested for possessing small amounts of marijuana are often held in custody overnight. We’re changing that. Effective next month, anyone presenting an ID and clearing a warrant check will be released directly from the precinct with a desk appearance ticket to return to court. It’s consistent with the law, it’s the right thing to do  and it will allow us to target police resources where they’re needed most.”

Now, presumably, everyone who’s been stopped and frisked have one less thing to worry about. So if you’re going to get high in public, just make sure you’ve paid any outstanding tickets you’ve been given.