Mayor De Blasio To Tell NYPD To Stop Marijuana Arrests And To Issue Summonses Instead

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio is moving toward a new policy regarding marijuana.

A spokesman confirmed to CBS2 on Sunday night that de Blasio will be directing the police to stop arresting people for smoking marijuana in public, and to give out summonses instead.

MORE: De Blasio Announces Review Of NYPD's Marijuana Enforcement After Analysis Reveals Racial Disparities

That policy change will be part of a 30-day review the mayor announced last week to "overhaul and reform" enforcement and racial disparity in marijuana arrests.

De Blasio also plans to create a task force of officials to begin laying the groundwork for full legalization. The mayor, who has long opposed making marijuana recreational, now thinks legalization is inevitable.

Please stay with CBSNewYork.com on Monday morning for more in this developing story

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• Marijuana
• Bill de Blasio