Much like many progressive cities, New Orleans is making great strides on the marijuana front. More specifically, this booming metropolis is working to decriminalize marijuana. Recently, the city’s Criminal Justice Committee discussed the ethics and legalities surrounding simple possession of marijuana cases. Together, they concluded that simple possession of marijuana should be decriminalized. In essence, this ruling states that individuals won’t be arrested if they’re found with 14 grams or less of marijuana.
During this meeting, committee members discovered that 2,700 simple possession summons are issued by the NOPD per year. Not only does this create a lot of paperwork, but it also demands considerable manpower. The committee ultimately decided that simple possession charges shouldn’t warrant so much legwork. What’s more, they called attention to the racial inequities involved in simple possession summons.
Helena Moreno, the head of the Criminal Justice Committee, mentioned that more than 85 percent of people getting these summons are Black. Yet, studies show that cannabis is used equally among all ethnicities and races. With that said, Black people are disproportionately targeted when it comes to the possession of marijuana. According to Moreno, it’s clear that “enforcement is skewed.” Rather than deplete NOPD resources, committee members urge officers to focus more on the city’s crime rates.
After all, writing these summons is an intricate process. Moreno was shocked to learn that this citation involves more than merely writing a ticket. After writing a ticket, officers need to document this information on a police report, which can take up to two hours to complete. From there, they need to log all evidence, subsequently seeking approval from their supervisor. Moreno claims that spending so many hours on “pot tickets” simply “doesn’t make sense.”
Who Benefits If New Orleans Decriminalizes Cannabis?
Another topic the committee honed in on was pardoning previous simple possession summons. With enough support, nearly 10,000 people could be exonerated. Jay Banks, a councilor, maintains that smoking weed isn’t something that should send people to jail. In addition to stripping individuals of their legal rights, this unjust punishment also makes it harder for people to support themselves.
Fortunately, everyone who spoke at the meeting was in favor of pushing these efforts forward. Not surprisingly, there has been some pushback. Those who oppose this ruling fear that crime will increase if law enforcement doesn’t convict those who possess small amounts of marijuana. Moreno is unwilling to entertain this claim, stating that it’s “just not the case.” She’s also vocal about how essential it is to abandon outdated notions.
Overall, Moreno is eager to see how this legislation will impact NOPD manpower, racial equity, and criminal justice reform. The vote to pass this legislation was unanimous, and it’s now up to the entire council to discuss and vote. While these ordinances are inspiring, it will take a few months for the New Orleans City Council to reach a decision. Until then, many New Orleans residents are taking great comfort in knowing that change is on the horizon.
