Economic impact felt in DA’s ‘weed whack’ of past convictions
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on Friday that he will vacate all past marijuana misdemeanor convictions in the borough, which could potentially help up to 20,000 people who have been convicted in Brooklyn since 1990.
This announcement does not legalize marijuana in the borough or state, which could lead to an estimated $700 million in tax revenue in the city and state, according to a report issued by NYS Comptroller Scott Stringer in May, but it could still end up helping ease the burden on taxpayers as it frees up resources in the DA’s office, the court system and the NYPD.
“We believe there are approximately 20,000 people in Brooklyn who have been convicted for marijuana and would be eligible for this benefit,” Eric Gonzalez said during a press conference on Friday at the Lenox Road Baptist Church in Prospect Lefferts Gardens.