In the summer of 2018, the New York State Health Department issued a report recommending the legalization of marijuana. This report came after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would ticket people caught smoking marijuana rather than arrest them. How do NYC’s changing marijuana laws impact New Yorkers? Who profits? Who loses out?

During the 2018-2019 school year, CUP collaborated with Teaching Artist Hugo Rojas, Designer Hrudaya Yanamandala and public high school students from the Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice (LGJ) to unpack New York City’s marijuana policies and the impact on local communities. To investigate, students surveyed members of their community, interviewed stakeholders working on the issue, and used moss to create artwork that explores different sides of the debate.

Students created a booklet to teach others what they learned about how the city’s marijuana policies impact New Yorkers, now and in the future.

Click here to get your copy of the booklet.

Check out more photos of the students in action here!

Resources & Links

The Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice (LGJ) combines law-related studies with real-world learning experiences for students in grades 6-12.

Funding Support

Support for this project was provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and Council Member Vanessa Gibson.

Special Thanks

Melissa Moore, Jamaal Jones, Alexis Posey, Kevin Sabet, Kelly Barrow, Jeneuse Geula, Juell Stewart, Irinia Vinnitskaya

Participants

  • CUP
  • Teaching Artist
  • Hugo Rojas
  • Project Lead
  • Fielding Hong
  • Project Support
  • Codi Haigney, Leigh Taylor
  • Designer
  • Hrudaya Veena Yanamandala
  • LGJ
  • Principal
  • Johanie Hernandez
  • Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships
  • Kim Felder
  • Students
  • Adama Bah, Sharay Black, Izabela Daley