The Bronx district attorney has been given the approval to dismiss over 6,000 misdemeanor marijuana cases - some dating back to the 1980s.

Bronx DA Darcel Clark said this is a step in bringing fairness to the criminal justice system, adding she hopes it will make a difference in the lives of a lot of people in the Bronx.

Of the 6,089 misdemeanor cases dismissed for possession or sale of marijuana, 2,441 were summonses, 1,998 were pending cases with 1,974 were open warrants and 1,650 where sentences have not been completed.

Clark said the dismissal of these cases will help people who were disproportionately affected by enforcement and arrests like communities of color, saying they will no longer be targets and can avoid collateral consequences.

"It'll be expunged off their records so now when they apply for jobs they don't have to say that they have criminal convictions. When they apply for work, apartments, immigration all of these consequences come with having criminal convictions," said Clark.

The judge said the court has up to 90 days to dismiss and seal each one of these cases.