Anyone who follows social media doesn’t need any kind of polling research to tell them that Americans are hugely in favor of decriminalizing pot (61%, according to CBS News). It’s a statistic that the social media strategist for the NYPD should take to heart considering the response to their latest Twitter post.
In a tweet from April 22, cops from the 106th Precinct in Ozone Park, Queens busted a dealer who was in possession of some baggies and two machetes — and a Monster energy drink, which they included in their photo.
One less marijuana dealer on our streets thanks to Officers Sardone and Winter. pic.twitter.com/uY4ddzCbch
— NYPD 106th Precinct (@NYPD106Pct) April 22, 2017
But the post didn’t receive the positive community response they were hoping for. As Mic points out, the cops’ efforts were a bit behind the times.
Almost everyone who replied mocked them for gloating about an arrest for something that few consider a crime anymore.
Below are a few examples from the comments that ensued:
@NYPD106Pct @DmDeShazo Looks like officer Sardone and Winter were upset when they found out weed wasn’t actually $20 a gram
— Cody (@Cprids) April 24, 2017
@Cprids @NYPD106Pct Really taught this guy with 15 grams a lesson tbh
— Don Darko (@DmDeShazo) April 24, 2017
@Cprids @NYPD106Pct I don’t see the 106 stopping or helping its 2-6 sexual assaults daily in its district tho yikes
— Don Darko (@DmDeShazo) April 24, 2017
@NYPD106Pct @BronzeHammer Good thing there’s no other crime in New York City to focus on
— Lev Novak (@LevNovak) April 25, 2017
@NYPD106Pct What a sham. Legalise it and people won’t need to carry weapons to sell a fucking plant.
— Brendan (@macleanbrendan) April 25, 2017
@macleanbrendan @NYPD106Pct that monster energy drink is more dangerous than the weed. smh
— Steve S. (@Strange177a) April 25, 2017
@NYPD106Pct There’s people literally stealing from their mothers and selling their wives for heroin/crack. You’re just bullies and bums honestly..
— Slim (@some1elsee) April 24, 2017
@NYPD106Pct LMFAOOOO y’all think weed is bad??? what about rapists and murderers and actual SERIOUS crimes??? what are y’all doing there??
— krizzy (@the0neand0nlyxb) April 24, 2017
According to a 2015 report from NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), over 12% of federal drug prisoners are locked up for pot-related violations.
Of the 94,678 federal inmates incarcerated for a drug violation as their most serious offense, 12.4 percent (11,533 persons) are serving time for violating marijuana laws. Most marijuana offenders are imprisoned for trafficking violations. The average length of prison for those incarcerated for marijuana-related offenses is 88 months.
Nearly half (44.3 percent) of federal marijuana inmates are offenders with minimal criminal histories who have not previously served time in prison. Eight-five percent of marijuana offenders did not possess a firearm.
You can see the entire Twitter thread here.
[Mic] Featured image via Twitter