Tagged: marijuana

Members of the legislature’s Black and Hispanic caucus and their allies made a last minute push for a bill to decriminalize the public possession of small amounts of marijuana, saying current laws unfairly target young black and Latino men.

A marijuana growing operation has been busted in the Town of Pembroke.

Members of the US Customs and Border Patrol noticed marijuana plants in a field along Angling Road while operating a helicopter. Genesee County Sheriff's officers were notified and 32 plants were seized. In custody are 49 year old James Cox, 22 year old Jessica Cox and 25 year old Beau Bressler. Prescription pills were also found in the search.

The street value of the plants is estimated at $15,000.

A Western New York lawyer has been arrested on a series of drug charges.

Adam Rissew, a Medina resident and a public defender in Monroe County, was arrested on Friday by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force. A raid of Rissew's home uncovered numerous marijuana plants, drug processing equipment and an unregistered firearm. The 36 year old attorney faces multiple charges. He has been arraigned and was transferred to the Orleans County jail.

Officials claim that more charges and further arrests are possible.

State Senator Mark Grisanti says the state could save tens of millions of dollars under Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposals to change the law on first-offense simple possession of marijuana.

He says the governor's plan doesn't decriminalize marijuana nor does it change the rules on drug weight for more serious charges.

The Buffalo Republican says in his experience, when whites are arrested on small amount charges, they are charged with violations, while African-Americans and others are charged with misdemeanors.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is proposing the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana found during police searches to  fix what he  says is a “blatant inconsistency” in New York City’s controversial "stop and frisk" policy.

Cuomo says the NYPD procedure has unfairly led to the arrest of thousands of mainly young black and Hispanic men who were caught with possession of small amounts of marijuana.   The arrests often led to criminal records with life-long consequences that can prevent the young person from getting college aid or living in public housing.

The Buffalo Police Department has fired one of its own after an arrest this morning by federal law enforcement officials. 

U.S. Attorney William Hochul said former police officer Jorge Melendez, 41, is charged with running a drug manufacturing business out of two warehouses in South Buffalo. Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI arrested Melendez at Police Headquarters.