Why is Crime down in N.Y.S? I think I know why

This week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that gun violence in NY State is at the lowest level since the state began tracking data in 2006. She attributes the decline to her “Gun Involved Violence Elimination program.” That’s just fine and dandy but I have long been skeptical of police statistics. When crime is on a decline it is accredited to the good work of law enforcement, but when it rises, it is blamed on the corrupt nature of living in poor communities and ignorance. But I think I know the reason for the recent decline, no one else dares to say. Two years ago, decriminalizing recreational marijuana in NY State, did that have anything to do with it?

As an illustration of my theory. I was a criminal for most of my life and had anxiety for police every time I saw a black and white in my rearvier mirror. I was a criminal because I indulged in the “devil’s lettuce” and if arrested, it could have ruined my life. Today, after a lifetime of feeling like the police were the predators in the community—with the purpose of criminalizing and ruining the lives of everyone they could. Actually, the only times in my life when I felt most vulnerable to crime and punishment was when went to a weed spot to cope. I haven’t said those words in a long time.

My point is that by legalizing marijuana it may have been a factor in this dramatic drop in crime. You will never hear this anywhere else. But I think the question needs to be asked what happened in the last decade to bring crime down to its lowest levels since 2006? It is common knowledge that after Prohibition in 1930 was lifted crime dropped significate across America.

That was because of all the gang violence behind boot legged liquor. Same can be said about violence behind illegal marijuana street culture. If anyone should take a bow for the drop in NYS crime it should Assembly Member Crystal D. Peoples who shepherded the legislation.