The penalty for being caught with weed in NYC is a $100 fine.
Personally I think it's better for social anxiety than alcohol - sativa strains, anyways - but it's not always that easy.
Or would it be fair for me to assume that you also think black cops are targeting white citizens for unfair arrests?
I mean yes, many cops are corrupt and if you're black and in a poor neighborhood the cops can shoot you for anything, but that doesn't really have to do with marijuana laws specifically.