Memphis City Council to Vote on Decriminalization Tomorrow - Articles

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Posted by: Katharine Heriges on Oct 3, 2016

Memphis City Council members will vote tomorrow on whether to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, the Commercial Appeal reports. The vote comes two weeks after the Nashville Metro Council voted to approve a similar measure. If it passes, the ordinance would give police officers the option to issue a misdemeanor citation, punishable by $50 or community service, for possession of a half-ounce or less of marijuana. Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings and Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich are among those that oppose the measure, while the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators and many criminal justice reform advocates are in support of it.