PHILADELPHIA, PA –
In an effort to decriminalize marijuana in Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter confirmed Monday, September 8, that he will sign the bill into law is called Philadelphia Marijuana Decriminalization Bill.
The bill states, “Non-violent drug and alcohol abuse is a proven long-term health risk and should be treated as a public health problem, not as a criminal problem.” It is claimed that it’s criminally punishable to possess small amounts of hash (or Sam) didn’t stop taking the drug, meantime do burden the taxpayer and stop the individual’s future success by obtaining a criminal record.
According to Huffington PostPhiladelphia Councilman Jim Kenney initially sponsored a decriminalization bill in May, which was planned end arrest residents carry pots in small quantities—about 30 grams, or less than an ounce.
Kenney’s initials bill, the guilty party will only receive a $25 ticket for their small holding. Nutter’s recent compromise with Kenney will not be too easy for the drug’s owner, but instead adjusts the bill to include a further $100 fine for smoking in public. This fine can be waived up to nine hours from community service. Lastly, cops will be asked to write person a violation notification and confiscated hash.
Signing the bill would save the Philadelphia Police Department an estimated $4 million yearly, and 4,000 people from arrest. [for SAM use], according to Kenya. Kenny words“We have so many people that we put into the prison pipeline, and the poverty pipeline, because a criminal record is a debilitating thing.”
For those who doubt Kenney’s intentions in the bill, Kenny has stated that decriminalizing marijuana possession is not the same as condoning marijuana use, according to Philly CBS.
The bill is changed Thursday, September 11th by the council, and set into law October 20th after the Nutter signed the agreement.
On Wednesday, September 10 at the Mayor’s press conference, Nutter spoke about his position on the decriminalization bill. In a Youtube video posted by PhilaGov, he said, “We know that over time, attitudes about marijuana have changed dramatically, and there have been many, many laws over the last few decades that were enacted. But we also know that many of these laws have not had the desired effect in terms of reducing drug use. To try to come up with the best policies for the citizens of our great cities, we’ve looked at various measures enacted across the country including cities like Chicago and Washington, DC… Currently 13 states in four cities have decriminalized penalties for possession or use of cannabis, and an additional 16 cities have made cannabis their own Lowest law enforcement policy.”
“[Councilman Kenny] lays bare the seriousness of the problem facing the many Philadelphians who are impacted by the disproportionately severe criminalization of possession of… small amounts of marijuana,” said Nutter.
Source:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/239004502/Philadelphia-Marijuana-Decriminalization-Bill
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/08/philadelphia-marijuana-decriminalization_n_5786848.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/us/philadelphia-nears-deal-to-ease-marijuana-laws.html?_r=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIijRTCaJaA
