MARIJUANA WOULD STILL BE ILLEGAL, BUT THE CONSEQUENCES FOR IT MAY BE ALOT LESS INTIMIDATING! FIND OUT INSIDE
People who are caught smoking or who are in possession of marijuana may not have to do jail time or pay a fine of $1000 only if the Atlanta City Council passes a bill that is currently under consideration. the council debated this for almost 2 hours. After the safety committee stated their side, the majority decided to push forward a legislation that would eliminate jail time to weed-smokers and lower the fine for possession to as low as $75. Currently, the fine could be $1000 with jail time for up to 6 months.
the idea of this legislation getting pushed was brought up as one of the solutions for addressing racial disparities in arrest because of marijuana. Within the past 2 years, 92% of those who were arrested for marijuana were African-American, and 85% were male.
“This is one of many hang ups that get people stuck in our jails,” City Councilmen Kwanza Hall stated. Another candidate for mayor, state Senator Vincent Fort, said last year he would seek to decriminalize marijuana possession.
The full council will review this legislation next month, on April 17th.
No comments