The Brooklyn district attorney say he'll no longer be prosecuting marijuana offenses and says many of those who have been convicted should get a clean slate.

Eric Gonzalez announced the new policy Friday in front of the Lenox Road Baptist Church in East Flatbush.

He says the clergy and other community groups who support his effort will be crucial in spreading the word.

The new policy will not go into effect until after September 21, but it gives people with low-level marijuana convictions the chance to have those cases removed from their records.

"We must remember that those that have convictions on these cases that we are no longer going to prosecute, to fail to address these past convictions would be hypocritical," Gonzalez said.

The new initiative will not apply to those with other convictions for things like drug sales, violent felonies or sex offenses.