SMART for Communities

The enforcement of marijuana prohibition has devastated communities across New York State, primarily those of color and low-income communities. It has saddled hundreds of thousands of people with criminal records that yield significant collateral consequences for them—and their families, including limited access to housing, employment, and education opportunities. Marijuana prohibition has also been a justification for a drastic increase in policing activities in certain communities. This disproportionate enforcement has substantially eroded police and community relationships. Ending prohibition is the SMART choice for communities because it will alleviate one of the biggest causes of negative interactions with law enforcement. It will also provide an opportunity, due to the revenue it will generate, for the communities that have been most devastated to start to repair the harms of the drug war.