A Buffalo City Court judge has approved Erie County District Attorney John Flynn’s motion to have 35 bench warrants for low-level marijuana cases thrown out.

The announcement comes following Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown's decision to have police stop enforcement of low-level marijuana offenses.

Flynn said he hasn’t come out for or against the legalization of marijuana and will prosecute county cases that do come across his desk before it is legalized, if it becomes legal at all.

Flynn said he will dismiss other warrants throughout Erie County and has asked his office to gather warrant information from town courts to begin that process.

“As legalization discussions continue in Albany, I am relieving a burden on those individuals who may have these charges hanging over their heads in the interest of justice,” Flynn said. “I do not believe people should find themselves in the criminal justice system and unable to apply for employment, student loans or other services because of a low-level marijuana charge.”

Among the charges that will be thrown out: fourth-degree criminal possession, a class A misdemeanor; fifth-degree criminal possession, a class B misdemeanor; and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation.