Officers in Miami-Dade County May Soon Be Giving Out Fines for Marijuana Possession Instead of Hauling People Off to Jail

Instead of getting hauled off to jail for possession of marijuana in Miami-Dade county low level offenders may be able to get off with a $100 fine instead, according to The Miami Herald. As the nation continues to make up its mind about marijuana policy, Miami is getting in on the action too. But it’s not for the reason you think. Miami’s county commissioner Sally Heyman is responsible for funding the new policy, in hopes of helping lower income communities avoid ruining their entire lives because they smoked a joint at a party. While we can’t exactly condone the behavior, the initiative our local government is taking to help a community torn by substance abuse get help, instead of getting thrown in jail, is a refreshing change of policy. If Mayor Carlos Gimenez doesn’t veto the new policy of course.

Let’s say the policy does go through: officers would be able to issue fines for low level offenders, without an ugly misdemeanor slapped on their record. This policy would be applicable for those carrying less than 20 grams of the controlled substance (according to the Miami Herald, that’s the equivalent of three dozen joints). The Miami Herald quotes Heyman,

“It allows us to give someone a break. It doesn’t destroy somebody’s life because they smoked a joint at a concert, or had a pipe in their pocket.”

For those who aren’t particularly thrilled about this new marijuana fining prospect, look at the bright side! America controls about 25% of the world’s prison population- and that’s not a very glamours title. This new policy will assist in untaxing our prison system, freeing up law enforcement resources and give non-violent, low level criminal offenders a second chance to get things right. Not to mention, extra income from marijuana fines for the city may go towards prevention education (don’t get too excited yet, there was no mention of this, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for progressive prevention policies).

Although we haven’t seen any drafts for mandatory drug treatment, or counseling of any type for those in possession of marijuana, perhaps those tides are still to come. The Metropolitan Services Committee will decide whether or not this new policy will go through this Wednesday. If it does pass the initial hurdle, the commission will revisit the policy for enactment later on this summer.

 
The recent legalization of marijuana around the US is causing confusion among policy makers and citizens alike. As we continue to fumble our way through the dark, some states are throwing all their chips in all at once, ratifying legal marijuana altogether. Currently these states include: Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Check back on Wednesday for the initial verdict for the proposed marijuana fining policies in Miami-Dade county.

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The post Officers in Miami-Dade County May Soon Be Giving Out Fines for Marijuana Possession Instead of Hauling People Off to Jail appeared first on Harbor Village Florida.

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