City Council Votes Unanimously To Decriminalize Marijuana In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA -- The Atlanta City Council voted 15-0 Monday to make marijuana possession a non-arrestable offense. The controversial vote, introduced in March by Councilman Kwanza Hall, signals historic criminal justice reform for the city. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Hall said it was high time the city looked at the irreparable harm done to families from harsh prison sentences tied to marijuana possession. “Today we stand with every parent of Atlanta who is fearful of or has seen their children’s lives destroyed, or careers ruined because of a racist policy that unjustly incarcerated minorities by more than ninety percent,” stated Hall. “Reforming the racist marijuana laws on the book in Atlanta has been just one in a number ofreforms that I have fought for.”

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Hall's legislation called for throwing out jail time for people caught with less than an ounce of marijuana. The measure would tack on a $75 fine instead of the current $1,000 penalty that is regularly given to offenders.

Many in the city have said that Atlanta’s marijuana arrests, 92 percent of which affect African-Americans, was enough to move them to back decriminalization. Although state law would still prohibit the illicit drug, law enforcement officials have signaled that they are warm to following the city’s lead on
marijuana.

The measure now moves to Mayor Kasim Reed, who has been heartened by city leaders’ thoughtful discussion around the controversial issue. “Thank you to @KwanzaHall & @KeishaBottoms for your leadership on marijuana reform. I look forward to reviewing & signing this legislation,” Reed tweeted Monday.

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