Philadelphia to ease marijuana penalty

[Payaso]

Philadelphian's have finally figured it out...stop arresting small time users for possession of pot and filling the jails with non-criminals, and balance the budget. They are sensibly going to try relaxing the laws against possession of small amounts.

The city’s new district attorney and the state Supreme Court are moving to all but decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use in an effort to unclog Philadelphia’s crowded court dockets.


Under a policy to take effect later this month, prosecutors will charge such cases as summary offenses rather than as misdemeanors. People arrested with up to 30 grams of the drug – slightly more than an ounce – may have to pay a fine but face no risk of a criminal record.


“We have to be smart on crime,” said District Attorney Seth Williams, who took office in January. “We can’t declare a war on drugs by going after the kid who’s smoking a joint on 55th Street. We have to go after the large traffickers.”


The shift is a major move in a reform agenda being hammered out in an unusual partnership between Williams and two members of the state Supreme Court, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and Justice Seamus P. McCaffery, each of whom has a long background in criminal justice.


The goal is to sweep about 3,000 small-time marijuana cases annually out of the main court system, freeing prosecutors and judges to devote time to more serious crimes. The diverted cases amount to about 5 percent of the caseload in criminal court.


By Craig R. McCoy, Nancy Phillips, and Dylan Purcell
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writers

For the full story visit this link:
http://peacefulskyalliance.com/2010/04/philadelphia-to-ease-marijuana-penalty/

 

[EstimatedProph]

Hmmm, not too difficult of a concept is it you dumb asses?

 

[Kalicokitty]

Good deal, I like hearing about stuff like this.

 

[CANNATOPIA]

Great Read! TY for the Good News Payaso

 

[Anita Bonghit]

what about the KIDS?

 

[Cannabis]

Regardless of budget being balanced, modern american political EMPLOYEES needs to stop putting non-criminals in jail.

Till then let there be drug war. 70 years and we're just gettin it kicked off. Here's a hint.

T.H.E.Y. L.O.S.E.

 

[Open Eyes]

One step at a time. Good news for you Phillies.

 

[Strainbrain]

Boy, between that and Roy Halladay you guys must be in seventh heaven.