Robert Celt
New Member
The New Orleans City Council took up a measure Thursday dealing with the city's marijuana ordinance.
The ordinance allows for a summons to be issued for simple marijuana possession in lieu of jail time.
The council voted to approve the ordinance unanimously.
A similar law has been in place since 2010, but it only applied for the first offense. The new ordinance creates a ticket structure for repeat offenses.
Councilwoman Susan Guidry sponsored the ordinance.
She said it gives officers the discretion to issue tickets instead of making an arrest.
Guidry believes it will free up police resources. She's also calling it a social justice issue because of the disproportionate number of black citizens who are arrested on simple possession charges.
"We are finding that the felony arrests for possession as well as distribution fall much more greatly on the African-American community," she said. "Our hope with this is that fewer people will be brought to jail and fewer people will have their lives disrupted with this charge"
The fine for simple possession can be up to $100.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New Orleans Relaxes Marijuana Penalties; Offenders To Get Fines In Lieu Of Jail Time
Author: Gina Swanson
Contact: WDSU
Photo Credit: None found
Website: WDSU
The ordinance allows for a summons to be issued for simple marijuana possession in lieu of jail time.
The council voted to approve the ordinance unanimously.
A similar law has been in place since 2010, but it only applied for the first offense. The new ordinance creates a ticket structure for repeat offenses.
Councilwoman Susan Guidry sponsored the ordinance.
She said it gives officers the discretion to issue tickets instead of making an arrest.
Guidry believes it will free up police resources. She's also calling it a social justice issue because of the disproportionate number of black citizens who are arrested on simple possession charges.
"We are finding that the felony arrests for possession as well as distribution fall much more greatly on the African-American community," she said. "Our hope with this is that fewer people will be brought to jail and fewer people will have their lives disrupted with this charge"
The fine for simple possession can be up to $100.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: New Orleans Relaxes Marijuana Penalties; Offenders To Get Fines In Lieu Of Jail Time
Author: Gina Swanson
Contact: WDSU
Photo Credit: None found
Website: WDSU
