Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. will stop prosecuting low-level marijuana cases beginning in August, his office announced Tuesday, following a six-month review of public safety in jurisdictions where marijuana is no longer criminally prosecuted. The shift was one of a number announced by public officials Tuesday, signaling a substantial softening of marijuana enforcement across the city.

“The dual mission of the Manhattan D.A.’s Office is a safer New York and a more equal justice system,” Vance said in a statement. “The ongoing arrest and criminal prosecution of predominantly black and brown New Yorkers for smoking marijuana serves neither of these goals. Effective August 1, my office will decline to prosecute marijuana possession and smoking cases. We are in discussions with the mayor and police commissioner to consider limited exceptions to this policy, the goal of which is to radically reduce the criminal prosecution of these offenses.”