NORML PAC Endorses Abe George for Brooklyn DA

The board of the political action committee of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana laws (NORML PAC) has unanimously endorsed Democrat Abe George for Brooklyn District Attorney, citing his commitment to treating possession of a small amount of marijuana as a violation, not a misdemeanor.

The NORML PAC endorsement came with a $500 donation to George's campaign.

George is the first candidate for local office to get NORML support this year. Hakeem Jeffries, Jerrold Nadler and Barney Frank are all former NORML endorsees.

Accepting the endorsement, George condemned the criminalization of small amounts of marijuana as a waste of tens of millions of dollars annually and a distraction from Brooklyn's soaring murder rate, the city's highest.

Ending the over-prosecution of marijuana possession, George said, would free up law enforcement resources to refocus on making Brooklyn streets safer.

NORML PAC chair Norm Kent praised George's "enlightened" candidacy, saying that George represents an emerging national prosecutorial trend.

Prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana possession cases drains law enforcement resources.  According to the Drug Policy Alliance, there were more than 39,000 marijuana possession arrests in New York City in 2012. Between 2002 and 2012, the NYPD expended more than a million hours arresting people for marijuana possession.  In 2010 alone, the city spent $75 million in taxpayer dollars prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Arrests for marijuana possession are often the product of illegal searches. According to Queens College researchers, between two-thirds and three-quarters of such cases result from stop and frisk, despite contrary law and NYPD policy.

On the same side of the issue as George are Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who both support decriminalizing possession of 25 or fewer grams of marijuana.

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