8 THE QUEENS COURIER • JULY 1, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Queens Criminal Court dismisses thousands
of low-level marijuana cases at DA’s request
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th ousands of misdemeanor marijuana
cases were dismissed and sealed in
Queens Criminal Court last week aft er
District Attorney Melinda Katz appeared
virtually before Judge Jerry Iannece.
Katz asked the court to dismiss 894
cases involving defendants who are awaiting
arraignment on desk appearance tickets
and summonses; have cases presently
pending in criminal court; have previously
pleaded guilty to marijuana charges;
and/or have outstanding warrants for
marijuana and marijuana-related off enses.
Th e DA requested that all warrants
be vacated and the cases dismissed and
sealed.
Additionally, 2,361 cases where defendants
were issued summonses for marijuana
off enses and currently have outstanding
warrants. Th e DA asked the
court to dismiss and seal the cases.
“For many years, I have advocated for
the decriminalization of recreational marijuana
use and other low-level, marijuanarelated
off enses. Since taking offi ce, I have
declined to prosecute these cases for the
signifi cant reason that criminalization of
marijuana had a disproportionate impact
on communities of color.”
Katz moved to dismiss the cases aft er
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law
the New York State Marijuana Regulation
and Taxation Act (MRTA) in late March,
which legalized recreational use of marijuana
for adults over the age of 21.
“Th e recent marijuana legislation was
long overdue,” Katz said. “Today’s proceeding
is another step in our continued
pursuit of justice and equity for all.”
Th e move comes three months aft er
Katz requested that the court dismiss and
seal hundreds of loitering for the purpose
of prostitution off enses. Penal Law 240.37
— another law that had recently been
repealed by the legislature — far too oft en
targeted women, trans people and people
of color solely based on their appearance.
“Today’s application to the court is
another step in the right direction,” Katz
said. “Th is offi ce is committed to dispensing
justice in a fair and equitable
manner for all.”
Queens joined the Bronx and Staten
Island in dismissing marijuana cases.
A number of public defenders
organizations were represented during
the special session.
Emma Goodman of Th e Legal Aid
Society said the dismissal of the more
than 3,000 cases is “critical for our clients,
the majority of whom are from communities
of color, who can now move on with
their lives.”
Goodman added that further prosecution
of misdemeanor marijuana cases
would be unjust.
“For decades our clients have shouldered
the brunt of marijuana prohibition,
losing years of their lives ensnared in the
criminal legal system and denied meaningful
employment, housing and other
opportunities,” Goodman said.
“The recent marijuana legislation was long overdue.
Today’s proceeding is another step in our continued
pursuit of justice and equity for all.”
— Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz delivers remarks at Queens Borough Hall.
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