NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The NYPD is making adjustments to deal with New York state’s new marijuana law, Chief of Department Rodney Harrison said in a new interview with 1010 WINS.
A departmental memo issued after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana for New Yorkers ages 21 and over says officers cannot search a vehicle based on marijuana smell alone, and cannot bar New Yorkers from smoking in public.
There will, however, still be some enforcement, Harrison said.
“It’s not going to turn into a non-enforcement situation,” he explained.
Pot smoking is still prohibited in city parks, as well as in spaces where smoking cigarettes is currently illegal.
Harrison said one of his chief concerns with the new law is “quality of life.”
“You know, when I was a precinct commander up in Harlem, that was a major complaint,” he told 1010 WINS. “Hopefully some of our elected officials will come up with a strategy to not inconvenience people that don’t want to inhale some of that smoke.”
He also expressed concerns about people getting behind the wheel after smoking pot.
“My biggest concern, going forward, is people that engage in cannabis intake and now get into a vehicle,” he said.
Harrison hopes the city will launch an awareness campaign that encourages New Yorkers who smoke to use public transportation or car and cab services, he said.
Related
