Kansas City Mayor Files Measure To Remove All Local Penalties For Marijuana Possession

The mayor of Kansas City introduced an ordinance on Wednesday that would end all penalties for marijuana possession under the municipality’s local laws. He also plans to pursue efforts to remove other “minor drug offenses from our code.” Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) and four members of the City Council filed the cannabis measure, which would repeal a provision of the Code of Ordinances stipulating that possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana carries a $25 fine and more than 35 grams is punishable by a $500 fine. “One of the ways we improve police-community relations is by eliminating laws that for too long have led to negative interactions, arrests, convictions, and disproportionate rates of incarceration of Black men and Black women,” Lucas said in a press release. “Reducing petty offenses—such as municipal marijuana offenses—reduce these negative interactions each day.” Decriminalization does not mean we eliminate public health and mental health resources for those dealing with substance abuse. It means we don't incarcerate folks who may well need treatment instead. We spend money on treatment rather than jailing too many from our communities. — Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) June 18, 2020 While this measure would not change Missouri state laws that continue to criminalize cannabis for non-medical use, the mayor said the city “doesn’t need to be in that business” and “instead, we remain focused on how we can help open doors to new opportunities and empower people to make a decent living.” The ordinance is expected to be taken up…

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Source : MJ moment
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