Live data from Hacker News

Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

reuters.com

61–70 of 88 posts

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cuomo's polling numbers are up today but even last week he was 40 points ahead. She hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell of winning this primary.

> Cuomo's polling numbers are up today but even last week he was 40 points ahead. I mean Joe Crowley would have probably been 40 points ahead if that race had been polled. I realize it's not the same, but state polls in midterm primaries must have an enormous margin of error.

The NYT actually did a great writeup of this the other day: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/11/us/politics/primary-elect...

TLDR:

- Pollsters often use party allegiance to sanity check their results, but that's irrelevant in a primary

- No one really pays attention to a primary early on (unlike presidential campaigns, which start earlier and earlier every cycle), so early polling is not representative of final voting

- Pollsters have to guesstimate how many voters of a certain type will show up at the polls, but nonpresidential primaries are super low turnout historically especially in noncompetitive areas, and some disgruntled voters for insurgent campaigns can upset this prediction

- Pollsters have a hard time reaching young people and minorities, who are usually not on landlines and are less likely pick up numbers from strangers

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#62
post #55

I'm from Wisconsin.... I reallly wish someone would get on the ball legalizing it here.

That won't happen because of Chicago. Just drive to CO, fill your trunk with Boulder Bars, and avoid states with harsher penalties on the blissful ride home.

Illinois just legalized medical marijuana as an alternative to opioid prescriptions.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#63
post #25

This is likely stemming at least in part from Cynthia Nixon's strong run for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York. She is running to the left of the current governor, Andrew Cuomo (Mario Cuomo's son), and has been making these sorts of outdated drug charges an issue.

Cuomo's polling numbers are up today but even last week he was 40 points ahead. She hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell of winning this primary.

She's not going to win, but Cuomo is going to lose reelection. He's so thoroughly fucked up the subway he's lost NYC.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cuomo's polling numbers are up today but even last week he was 40 points ahead. She hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell of winning this primary.

She's not going to win, but Cuomo is going to lose reelection. He's so thoroughly fucked up the subway he's lost NYC.

Hope your right. It’s time for him to go.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#65
post #56

I support dropping these cases, but it's a tough incentive that people who simply didn't show up for court are getting their case dropped, whereas people who got convicted will keep their convictions. I guess there is no totally clean way to make this transition and the sooner it happens the better.

You could also void old convictions on these charges. Won't undo the damage but will help.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#66

Meanwhile in Malaysia a 29 year old father to be has been sentenced to hang. https://www.change.org/p/jabatan-peguam-negara-free-muhammad...

When I was in Msia I talked with our younger guide about it. He was well aware the risk was not worth it. I was a little surprised at how strictly treated drugs.

There is no reason to lay your life on the line for pot. It’s ridiculous to hang someone for that. Too bad people can’t claim it’s even mildly addictive after years and years of saying it isn’t.

Punishment and crime obviously don’t fit. But... He chose to have illegal drugs in his country, he wasn’t framed. He knew how illegal it was.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Goverment officials can just ignore financial efforts of private companies, when their reelection campaign is not dependent on that money. If by fighting a private company, you make voters happy then those votes directly gotten can be worth more than any votes that added campaign funds would possibly give.

> Goverment officials can just ignore financial efforts of private companies, when their reelection campaign is not dependent on that money. I'm not sure what you mean. Isn't the whole problem that winning elections is heavily dependent on money?

In a one party state like NY all you have to do is win the primary.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#68

Meanwhile in Malaysia a 29 year old father to be has been sentenced to hang. https://www.change.org/p/jabatan-peguam-negara-free-muhammad...

When I was in Msia I talked with our younger guide about it. He was well aware the risk was not worth it. I was a little surprised at how strictly treated drugs. There is no reason to lay your life on the line for pot. It’s ridiculous to hang someone for that. Too bad people can’t claim it’s even mildly addictive after years and years of saying it isn’t. Punishment and crime obviously don’t fit. But... He chose to ha…

> He knew how illegal it was.

Oh yes the police had to arrest him. The judges just apply the law anyway. And the executioners hanging him will be following orders. Looks like the only guy left to be be blamed here is the guy, because he had the choice, didn't he?

Let's turn this around!

Everyone of those involved knows what that law does. All of them could have walked away and said: "Fuck that law, I'm not enforcing it." But they chose to enforce it.

Unjustifiable violence must never be blamed on the victim. Especially if perpetrated by a government.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#69
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was in Msia I talked with our younger guide about it. He was well aware the risk was not worth it. I was a little surprised at how strictly treated drugs. There is no reason to lay your life on the line for pot. It’s ridiculous to hang someone for that. Too bad people can’t claim it’s even mildly addictive after years and years of saying it isn’t. Punishment and crime obviously don’t fit. But... He chose to ha…

> He knew how illegal it was. Oh yes the police had to arrest him. The judges just apply the law anyway. And the executioners hanging him will be following orders. Looks like the only guy left to be be blamed here is the guy, because he had the choice, didn't he? Let's turn this around! Everyone of those involved knows what that law does. All of them could have walked away and said: "Fuck that law, I'm not enforcing…

> Everyone of those involved knows what that law does. All of them could have walked away and said: "Fuck that law, I'm not enforcing it."

You'd like to think. But then those people would hang too. Sure if life in Malaysia were completely horrible there might eventually be a revolution all the way up the chain of command, but it's not. They live by laws that were enacted in a purportedly representative system of government.

When travelling, you need to know and take seriously the local laws and customs. Your naively idealistic view of "fuck that" won't save you.

Re: Manhattan DA's office drops more than 3,000 open marijuana cases

#70

I'm from Wisconsin.... I reallly wish someone would get on the ball legalizing it here.

Vote for those who advocate for it. Take your friends and family to the polls with you. If you have extra money, donate to those politicians. Even a $10 donation is helpful.

Or move to where it's legal, if it's that important to you.
Post reply on HN