How the NYPD recriminalized marijuana after the state decriminalized it
by Cory Doctorow from on (#3W586)
Back in 1977, middle class, white New Yorkers got frustrated over being criminalized for smoking weed, so they got the state legislature to decriminalized simple possession of weed -- merely having weed in your possession became a civil infraction and if you were caught, you might get a ticket, but that's it. (more")