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End arrest/jail time in ABQ, Council vote 4/2

aridbud

automeister
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Progress??!!
The Albuquerque city council will consider whether to end arrest and jail time for marijuana possession. The measure (O-18-12) would make one ounce or less of marijuana and possession of any drug paraphernalia a civil infraction with a fine of $25.

Help us ensure this measure passes by calling your councilor or attending the meeting on Monday. Check out the information below for a call script and meeting details.

Contact Your Councilor
Find your councilor here, call their number below and you can say: I’m calling to ask my Councilor to vote in favor of Ordinance O-18-12 to decrease penalties for adults who possess small amounts of marijuana. This is a common-sense way to save the city money while improving public safety. Our police deserve to have the resources to deal with the serious violent crimes that threaten our communities and families. I urge you to support Ordinance O-18-12. Thank you.

City Councilor Contact Information
Ken Sanchez, District 1 - (505) 768-3183
Isaac Benton, District 2 - (505) 768-3186
Klarissa J. Peña, District 3 - (505) 768-3127
Brad Winter, District 4 - (505) 768-3101
Cynthia Borrego, District 5 - (505) 768-3189
Pat Davis, District 6 - (505) 768-3152
Diane Gibson, District 7 - (505) 768-3136
Trudy Jones, District 8 - (505) 768-3106
Don Harris, District 9 - (505) 768-3123


In 2015, a similar measure passed but it was vetoed by Mayor Berry. But since then, our chances of winning have increased dramatically. With your help, I’m confident we can get this measure to Mayor Tim Keller and convince him to sign it into law.

Show your support! One small step (Albuquerque), more steps ahead, STATE WIDE LEGALIZATION!
 

aridbud

automeister
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Times are a changin' in NM....with Michelle Lujan Grisham as front runner (she's a canna advocate), the tides will turn after lame duckstress, Martinez (2 terms of nothing prosperous for NM citizens), & other conservative community leaders.
 

aridbud

automeister
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Will go into effect 4/20!!
https://www.thecannabist.co/2018/04/03/albuquerque-decriminalize-marijuana/102949/
A resolution to lessen the offense of marijuana possession is on its way to Mayor Tim Keller's desk.

This after Albuquerque City Council voted in favor of decriminalizing an ounce or less of marijuana on Monday night.

The resolution is moving forward thanks to a 5 to 4 vote.

That means when Mayor Keller signs off on it, low-level pot possession without a valid medical marijuana card would only be a citable offense with a $25 ticket, with no jail time.
The Albuquerque City Council voted to decriminalize marijuana possession in small amounts Monday night, after lengthy testimony from citizens mostly urging them to approve the change to the local criminal code.

The proposal put forward by city council members Pat Davis and Isaac Benton would amend Albuquerque’s criminal code by making it a citable offense to possess an ounce (28 grams) of pot and paraphernalia without a valid medical marijuana referral. Authorities could issue a $25 ticket but no jail time. Councilman Pat Davis equated the penalty to a traffic ticket, saying that for many it would “beat having to check a box for the rest of your life” and deal with years of consequences that can result from having a marijuana misdemeanor show up on a court record.

He and Councilman Isaac Benton sponsored the proposal, presenting it as a public safety issue. They argued their proposal will free up police, who have contended with staffing shortages in recent years, to focus on more serious crimes.

“At the end of the day, our police officers have more important things to do” Davis said.

The bill still must receive final approval from Democratic Mayor Tim Keller. Last year, he replaced Richard Berry, a Republican who had vetoed a similar proposal in 2015.

If passed this year, Albuquerque would join a growing list of U.S. municipalities that have enacted similar measures.

“This would put Albuquerque in line with a third of the population” in the United States, said Emily Kaltenbach, the state director in New Mexico for the Drug Policy Alliance, which has advocated nationally for easing drug sentencing laws.

Santa Fe already has a similar measure decriminalizing marijuana in place.

Under Albuquerque’s current criminal code, police can issue $50 fines to first-time offenders possessing an ounce or less of marijuana. Authorities also can jail first-time offenders for a maximum of 15 days, though such instances appear to be rare. The fines and penalties increase with a second violation.

While a petty misdemeanor, a marijuana possession charge can potentially hinder a person’s chances at securing housing or student loans, Kaltenbach said.

The City Council approved the measure on a 5-4 vote. Councilwoman Cynthia Borrego was among those who voted against it.

“There’s no empirical evidence that shows the relationship between a reduction in crime and decriminalizing marijuana,” she said.

The measure also has backing from the city’s police union.
 

aridbud

automeister
ICMag Donor
Veteran
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Possession of small amounts of marijuana will no longer be a criminal offense in New Mexico's largest city.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller signed legislation Thursday [4/12] amending the city's criminal code, making low-level pot possession of an ounce (28 grams) or less without a valid medical marijuana referral a citable offense.

Instead of jail time and a criminal penalty fee, police would issue a $25 fine.

City officials say the new law will go into effect next week.

Albuquerque joins a growing list of U.S. municipalities that have similar measures in place, including Santa Fe.

City officials say law enforcement should be able to spend more time on violent crimes instead of minor marijuana offenses.
 

nickman

Active member
Veteran
There’s a similar law where I’m at over on the East Coast... I’m pretty sure it’s. Fine of $100 for an ounce or less...!!!...

But like the person above said “it’s still against the law to cultivate even one small plant here”... witch is just straight bullshit in my eyes...!!!... Someday I pray that this will be aloud.
 

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