The City by Rosalind Adams
This article was first published by THE CITY. Subscribe to the New York City News and receive it delivered each morning.
A Rikers Island prisoner is facing a marijuana-related felony charge. This is a shocking example of how, even though pot has been legalized in New York State, it can still bring people into the criminal system, as it’s illegal under federal and state laws.
Jumal George, 33, was pulled over by police in Brooklyn in October as he drove to his friend’s home after working as a head budtender for the Housing Works Cannabis Co. They discovered that he did not have a driver’s license and had an arrest warrant in Pennsylvania. These charges stemmed from cannabis-related charges that he had been arrested for in 2021.
Audra Ramos told THE CITY he left his license behind. She said that George made a mistake, but was trying to fix it. George made several trips to Pennsylvania in order to resolve charges, but he missed an hearing last year after the date was suddenly changed. The warrant was issued at that time.
George was arrested by the police in New York after he was pulled over. He was sent to Rikers for seven days two days later.
George was arrested in Pennsylvania on a felony charge of possession with intent to sell marijuana, along with six misdemeanors including DUI for a Schedule I Drug.
Mike Hassell, an ex-colleague at Housing Works Cannabis Co., who recently left to start his own consulting company, created a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover George’s potential bail and legal fees.
Haskell told THE CITY on Monday night that the cannabis community had raised more than $10,000. “The cannabis community has really stepped forward to support Jumal, and it makes be proud to be part of it.”
The District Attorney’s Office in York County, Pennsylvania stated that it would not comment on cases currently in progress. The public defender in Pennsylvania who represents George was not available to answer calls made on Monday.
In an email sent to THE CITY, cannabis lawyer Jeffrey Hoffman who was not involved in George’s case wrote about the detention and called it “madness.”
“It’s still ridiculous”
George, a long-time cannabis consumer, became interested in joining New York’s legal market in March 2021 after the legalization was passed. George, who was a bartender before, attended a 4-week training program in retail cannabis by the non profit Hospitality Pathways.
Hassell, his former colleague, said that “Jumal made it very clear that he wanted to work on the legal cannabis markets and that he had taken the necessary steps to achieve that.”
He’s been running a small business of edibles with his fiancée for years. They have a son together and make cakes for those who can’t afford them. NY1 News featured Ramos as the New Yorker of The Week in December last year for her volunteerism.
Beatrice Stein, the director of the nonprofit, stated that George was among the first to find a job on the legal market. She said, “We’re heartbroken and are doing everything we can” to help George.
George was a regular attendee at industry events while at Housing Works. He had become well-versed in cannabis strains and products.
Colin Decker, owner of 7 SEAZ cannabis brand, who sells their products at Housing Works, said: “He is just crucial to the operation there.”
Decker, who learned of George’s arrest this weekend, posted the news on his Instagram account. Decker said that he could not expect other states to have the same level of detention as New York. However, it is still absurd how it affects someone’s daily life.
George was arrested in August 2021 near York, Pennsylvania after a traffic check for turning in the wrong lane. This is according to interviews and records. George and Ramos, his fiancee, were traveling with their child a few miles away to the amusement park Hershey Park.
Ramos remembered that the police said they could smell cannabis in her car. The edibles were found by the police when they searched her vehicle. George was arrested for possession and driving under the influence a Schedule I substance based on blood tests. A positive blood test does not necessarily indicate impaired driving. This is because cannabis can remain in the bloodstream up to a week.
George was able to attend the first hearing. According to his family and friends, the date for his second hearing had been changed. The notice was also sent to an old address. Ramos said that he had not been hired by Housing Works and was experiencing car troubles when the warrant was first issued in November.
Ramos says that she has been talking less to George since he spent nearly two weeks at Rikers. She began to cry as she explained that George was being beaten every day.
Ramos added that she often hears people arguing on the phone while she is talking to him. “I don’t want him to argue, I just want them out.”
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The post Budtender at New York City’s First Legal Cannabis Store Jailed on Marijuana charges appeared initially on Marijuana Moment.
