Blacks nearly 10x likelier to be arrested for marijuana in Manhattan, Brooklyn: Report

Blacks are nearly 10 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites in Manhattan and Brooklyn, despite similar usage by both races, according to a report Thursday from the NYCLU.

"In all corners of New York state, police are targeting people of color for marijuana possession arrests," NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said.

"Arresting and jailing thousands of people for possessing small amounts of marijuana ... needlessly disrupts people's lives and fosters distrust between the police and the communities they are sworn to serve." Statewide, blacks were about 4.5 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana possession, according to the report. Nationwide, blacks are more than 3.7 times likelier to be arrested for possession than whites.