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It was a priority for BDS that this legislation work towards addressing the many harms that Black and Latine/x/a/o/Hispanic communities have long suffered due to the impacts of racist enforcement. The language of the MRTA also acknowledges that the War on Drugs is entangled in not only the criminal legal system but also the immigration, housing, employment, the family regulation systems and more, with devastating impacts on nearly every aspect of people's lives. Even in the wake of decriminalization, law enforcement had continued to use the supposed ‘odor of marijuana’ as a justification to stop, harass, and search people of color without a warrant. Similarly, the family regulation system has long used marijuana prohibition and stigmatization as justification to surveil and separate Black and Latine/x/a/o/Hispanic children from their families and keep them in foster care longer. The MRTA protects against these and other discriminatory practices. BDS continues to work with our clients in all practice areas to address the collateral consequences associated with decades of oppressive marijuana criminalization. ## Resources Fact Sheet Start Smart: *Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act* [Fact Sheet](https://bds.org/assets/files/2021.02.01-What-the-MRTA-Does-003.pdf) Website Drug Policy Alliance: *Uprooting The Drug War* [Microsite](https://uprootingthedrugwar.org/) ## Latest News - [Video of NYPD Cannabis Raid and Arrest Raises Questions About Adams’ New Enforcement Offensive The City reported on video of a recent NYPD raid of an unlicensed cannabis vendor and concerning developments in cannabis enforcement. “We’re concerned that with the NYPD being the agency that’s now conducting lockouts more people will be arrested as a result and then subject to contact with the criminal legal system,” said Supervising Policy Counsel Jackie Gosdigian. In The News Marijuana Legalization June 4, 2024](https://bds.org/latest/video-of-nypd-cannabis-raid-and-arrest-raises-questions-about-adams-new-enforcement-offensive) - [New York and New Jersey Legalize Recreational Marijuana: Still, Immigrants Might Face Risks “It’s very important for immigrant communities and noncitizens to know that any involvement with marijuana even if it’s under the lawful conduct of the state they live in – can have negative consequences,” Catherine Gonzalez, a senior staff attorney with the Brooklyn Defender Services, said. She added that immigrants may also be deemed inadmissible due to a prior conviction. In The News Marijuana Legalization August 12, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/new-york-and-new-jersey-legalize-recreational-marijuana-still-immigrants-might-face-risks) - [DA moves to vacate over 3,500 marijuana cases, virtually clearing docket of Brooklyn weed charges Brooklyn’s top prosecutor on Tuesday asked a judge to vacate over 3,500 marijuana cases, a move the Brooklyn District Attorney says will virtually clear the docket of borough-wide weed-related proceedings.  In The News Marijuana Legalization July 27, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/da-moves-to-vacate-over-3-500-marijuana-cases-virtually-clearing-docket-of-brooklyn-weed-charges) - [Immigrants Find Hurdles, Not Protection In Pot Legalization Because the federal government's seemingly obsessed with marijuana, and noncitizens are under the jurisdiction of the federal government, immigrants can't avail themselves of the benefits of legalization. Quite the opposite: Any type of conduct involving marijuana — even one that is legal under state law — can threaten immigrants' future in the United States, legal experts say.  In The News Marijuana Legalization June 11, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/immigrants-find-hurdles-not-protection-in-pot-legalization) - [How NY Cannabis Law Could Redefine Policing "I saw it first-hand in my experience as a public defender," said Jackie Gosdigian, a senior policy counsel at Brooklyn Defender Services. "It could be something as small as a 'roach' that was found on the ground, and then the police start using that as an excuse to literally bring in six or seven young people to the precinct."  In The News Marijuana Legalization June 6, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/how-ny-cannabis-law-could-redefine-policing) - [As New York Legalizes Marijuana, Parent Advocates Push Child Welfare Agencies to Adapt Raising the bar for state involvement is important because unnecessary child welfare investigations also hurt families, said Nila Natarajan, an attorney with Brooklyn Defender Services: “More often than not, the harm is the state involvement, and the invasiveness of an investigation and the temporary or long-term separation.”  In The News Marijuana Legalization May 20, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/as-new-york-legalizes-marijuana-parent-advocates-push-child-welfare-agencies-to-adapt) - [BDS Lauds Enactment of Marijuana Legalization The final days of marijuana prohibition in New York State are upon us. Today, the New York State government enacted a landmark, progressive legalization bill rooted in racial and economic justice that does not focus solely on generating revenue. New Yorkers demanded that legalization be done right, and this legislation works towards addressing the many harms that Black and brown communities have long suffered due to the impacts of racist enforcement. Press Releases Marijuana Legalization March 31, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/bds-lauds-enactment-of-marijuana-legalization) - [Public Defenders Nationwide Announce Plan for Immigration Justice; Provide Ten-Point Plan to Biden Administration Public Defenders Urge Federal Government to Take Bold Steps to Reverse and Repair Damage of the Outgoing Administration Press Releases Marijuana Legalization January 13, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/public-defenders-nationwide-announce-plan-for-immigration-justice-provide-ten-point-plan-to-biden-administration) - [Public Defenders Nationwide Present Biden Administration and New Democratic Majority Congress a Comprehensive Plan for Immigration Justice Public defenders from across the country will hold a virtual press conference on Wednesday, January 13 at 9AM PST/ 12 PM EST, to present their ten-point action plan for immigration justice and reform. The plan urges the Biden administration and Democratic majority Congress to act swiftly and decisively for immigration justice to undo the unjust, harmful and destructive tactics of the outgoing administration. Press Releases Immigration Raids & Detention January 12, 2021](https://bds.org/latest/public-defenders-nationwide-present-biden-administration-and-new-democratic-majority-congress-a-comprehensive-plan-for-immigration-justice) - [NYC Public Defender Legislative Priorities for Criminal Legal System Reform We support specific legislation to decarcerate jails and prisons, reduce law enforcement budgets and increase accountability, invest in Black and Latinx communities, treat immigrant communities with dignity, and protect young people who deserve compassion, not incarceration. This year’s supermajority presents a historic opportunity to advance those goals and promote racial justice by attacking mass incarceration and criminalization, bill by bill. Letters & Testimonies Correctional Visits and Phone Calls December 16, 2020](https://bds.org/latest/nyc-public-defender-legislative-priorities-for-criminal-legal-system-reform-2) ## Issues [Benefits & the Social Safety Net](https://bds.org/issues/benefits-the-social-safety-net) [Bail & Pre-Trial Incarceration](https://bds.org/issues/bail-pre-trial-incarceration) [Correctional Visits and Phone Calls](https://bds.org/issues/correctional-visitation-phone-calls) [Court Fees & Fines](https://bds.org/issues/court-fees-fines) [Discovery - Access to Evidence](https://bds.org/issues/discovery-access-to-evidence) [Drug Testing of New Parents](https://bds.org/issues/drug-testing-of-new-parents) [Early Defense for Parents Facing ACS Investigations](https://bds.org/issues/early-defense-for-parents-facing-acs-investigations) [Education Rights](https://bds.org/issues/education-rights) [Employment Discrimination & Work Authorization](https://bds.org/issues/employment-discrimination-work-authorization) ["Gangs" & the Criminalization of Association](https://bds.org/issues/gangs-the-criminalization-of-association) [Immigration Consequences of Criminal Legal System Involvement](https://bds.org/issues/immigration-consequences-of-criminal-legal-system-involvement) [Immigration Raids & Detention](https://bds.org/issues/immigration-raids-detention) [Marijuana Legalization](https://bds.org/issues/marijuana-legalization-drug-decriminalization) [Parole Justice](https://bds.org/issues/parole-justice) [Police Accountability](https://bds.org/issues/police-accountability) [Right to Counsel in Immigration Court](https://bds.org/issues/right-to-counsel-in-immigration-court) [School-to-Prison Pipeline](https://bds.org/issues/school-to-prison-pipeline) [Sentencing and Mandatory Minimums](https://bds.org/issues/sentencing) [Sex Work Decriminalization](https://bds.org/issues/sex-work-decriminalization) [Solitary Confinement](https://bds.org/issues/solitary-confinement) [Surveillance and Civil Rights](https://bds.org/issues/surveillance) [Tenant Rights and Housing Discrimination](https://bds.org/issues/tenant-rights-and-housing-discrimination) [Youth Justice](https://bds.org/issues/youth-justice) [Mental health](https://bds.org/issues/mental-health) Brooklyn Defender Services 177 Livingston St., 7th Fl. 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In March of 2021, the New York State government enacted a landmark, progressive marijuana legalization bill rooted in racial and economic justice, the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA). It was a priority for BDS that this legislation work towards addressing the many harms that Black and Latine/x/a/o/Hispanic communities have long suffered due to the impacts of racist enforcement. The language of the MRTA also acknowledges that the War on Drugs is entangled in not only the criminal legal system but also the immigration, housing, employment, the family regulation systems and more, with devastating impacts on nearly every aspect of people's lives. Even in the wake of decriminalization, law enforcement had continued to use the supposed ‘odor of marijuana’ as a justification to stop, harass, and search people of color without a warrant. Similarly, the family regulation system has long used marijuana prohibition and stigmatization as justification to surveil and separate Black and Latine/x/a/o/Hispanic children from their families and keep them in foster care longer. The MRTA protects against these and other discriminatory practices. BDS continues to work with our clients in all practice areas to address the collateral consequences associated with decades of oppressive marijuana criminalization.