New York City will change its policy on possession of small amounts of marijuana , giving police officers the option of writing offenders a ticket instead of taking them into custody , city officials said Monday at a press conference . Mayor Bill de Blasio said the change will remove the stigma of a criminal conviction for many young people who are arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession . Such a conviction can prevent people from getting a job or housing , he said . `` A summons will not affect their future , '' he said . `` An arrest could . '' The policy change , which goes into effect November 19 , will only affect cases involving 25 grams ( .88 ounce ) or less of marijuana , Police Commissioner William Bratton said . The officer can choose to write a citation , which requires the suspect to appear in court later , Bratton said . The marijuana would be seized and the person who had the marijuana would continue with their day . The fine for a first offense would usually be $ 100 , officials said . Officers will make judgment call . If the officer does decide to take the suspect into custody , the suspect would be handcuffed and taken to the station house for fingerprinting and a mugshot , Bratton said . Police did n't specify the penalties but said they 'd be tougher than for a citation . As to how that decision would be made , de Blasio said , `` An officer ultimately has to make the judgment on the scene . '' If police find somebody smoking marijuana -- as opposed to simply possessing it -- the suspect would have to go through the entire arrest procedure , Bratton said . People without proper identification or people with outstanding warrants would be taken into custody , he said . De Blasio said misdemeanor marijuana arrests disproportionately affect young people in minority groups in New York City . He said many job applications ask about arrests or convictions , but not summonses . `` We do n't want to saddle someone who made one small mistake with something that will follow them all their lives , '' the mayor said . 'You will see fewer unnecessary arrests ' De Blasio said the policy change will also free up New York City police to concentrate on more serious crimes . The officers wo n't have to spend hours at the station house or in court because of small amounts of marijuana . `` You will see fewer unnecessary arrests , '' he said , noting that misdemeanor marijuana arrests have declined for several years . Voters in Colorado , Washington state , Oregon , Alaska and Washington , D.C. , have voted to legalize recreational marijuana . New York law still bans possession of the drug . The policy shift only changes how police would enforce the existing law . De Blassio and Bratton said they do not support legalizing recreational marijuana . The policy change was first reported Sunday by the New York Times .
New York City police may issue a ticket for small amounts of marijuana , officials said . The policy change will only affect arrests involving up to 25 grams of marijuana . The mayor said the old law disproportionately affected minority populations . A ticket has a lighter penalty than an arrest , police said .