Guilty until proven innocent

Yesterday at about 10pm or so, I was with 2 of my friends: a Pakistani male & an Italian female. We walked around a long time looking for a place to eat, but most places were closed due to the time & the fact that it was in downtown Manhattan. The 3 of us cut through a parking lot to check out another place & alas, TJ’s Bar & Restaurant was open. On our way through the parking lot, I smelt a strong stench of weed, but didn’t think much of it. 2 of us went inside the restaurant while my male friend stayed outside to talk to his mother on the phone.

I was getting annoyed because my friend was taking way too long. He then motioned us to come outside where two cops were standing. The 2 cops stood there with looks of accusation & tones of intimidation. “Were you smoking weed out here?” They asked what we were doing crossing through the parking lot & that we were the only people they saw outside where the smell was. At the time I was in my gym clothes, had no pockets to keep any substance in, & none of us looked high & were not acting disorderly. Before we got outside, my male friend told the officers to search for him & they did. When I got outside, told them my story, & told them to search me, they declined to conduct the search (I assume because they were male & I am female & they would have had to call a female officer). I told them to test me (not knowing there wasn’t such a test), & they said there was nothing to test me with. I thought to myself, Why am I standing out here in the cold if you have no proof & no way to get answers other than he said/she said? I was shaken & furious. Why on Earth would they assume that we did it? The odor from substances lingers so it could have been anyone. Was it because my male friend is brown? Is it because we were 3 young college students & it is assumed that many smoke weed? Nevertheless, the more I talked to the officers defending myself, I think they realized that I know nothing about weed (because I do not smoke) & they let us go back into the restaurant.

You would think in New York (especially New York City), a supposed liberal state, that marijuana would be legal. Although I do not smoke, I support the legalization of marijuana & people who use it as long as one does not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence. If marijuana is decriminalized, the economy would be in better financial standings & there would be less “crime.” 

Furthermore, if you smell weed or are in the presence of anything illegal in NY, go as far away from it as possible for you will be treated as a criminal if found near the scene. Most officers are hired to fulfill quotas & make money for the city; helping citizens doesn’t make money for the city, so why should they? The more illegal activity they find, the more money the officers make. Therefore, it is in their best interest to interrogate as many innocent people as they can until they find a guilty one.

I’m am still flabbergasted & wish our society was different, but in today’s society, we have to hide from our law enforcement rather than reach out to them for help & support. Our society is a sad reality & Europe is looking better & better.

Until next time... ciao 💗

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