Marijuana law just creates criminals

By Hakeem Jeffries, Special to CNN

This article, "Marijuana law just creates criminals," is about how the law on marijuana has made arrests on it go sky rocket. The state made a law 30 years ago, making a private possession of marijuana of less than 25 grams a violation and having to pay an $100 fine. Having possession of the small amount out in public will still be a misdemeanor. Unfortunately, more than 50,000 citizens were arrested in 2011 in NYC for having small amounts of marijuana in their possession. Most of them were Latino and black. NYC spends about $75 million dollars on arresting people for having a possession of marijuana every year. "Marijuana is the number one arrest category in NY."
"The vast majority of these people live in communities of color, and almost 90% are immediately released without arrest or even a summons."
Police approach young people often and make them empty their pockets and she them whatever they have. Those of them who have a small possession of marijuana, it is now in public view.
"Thousands of people are arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine."

I think that what the cops are doing is wrong. Making young people, especially young people of color,  empty out their pockets and being frisked. Basically what they're doing here is looking for people, just to look for them. I believe that they just want to have a reason to pull a black or Latino person over and give them a misdemeanor.