Pubdate: Wed, 09 May 2012
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA)
Copyright: 2012 Media General Communications Holdings, LLC.
Contact:  http://www.timesdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365
Author: Graham Moomaw

CHARLOTTESVILLE COUNCIL OKS MARIJUANA RESOLUTION

CHARLOTTESVILLE - After a wide-ranging, hourlong discussion of 
marijuana policy, the City Council voted Monday night to approve a 
resolution calling on the state to revisit its pot possession policies.

Councilors were split on the issue, with some voicing concerns about 
whether a broader resolution that defined marijuana possession as a 
low priority for police would send the wrong message to children.

At least two councilors supported the stronger resolution, but they 
picked up the third vote needed by narrowing the resolution down to a 
single paragraph.

The council voted 3-2 to "call on the Virginia General Assembly and 
the governor of Virginia to revisit the sentencing guidelines that 
merit jail terms for simple possession, do away with rules that 
suppose intent to distribute without evidence, and give due 
consideration to sponsored state bills that would decriminalize, 
legalize or regulate marijuana like alcohol."

"I think it's perfectly legitimate for us to say as an elected body 
that there are other priorities and that we're going in the wrong 
direction when it comes to the war on drugs," Councilor Dave Norris said.

The city Police Department suggested council members defer action on 
the deprioritization measure.

City officials insist marijuana possession is already a low priority. 
Statistics provided by the Police Department show that the city doled 
out 113 charges for marijuana possession in 2011, or about 2.2 
percent of the 5,040 total charges for the year. Over the past five 
years, the city has averaged nearly 100 possession charges per year, 
with no major trends in either direction.

"They're not huge numbers," Police Chief Timothy J. Longo said at the meeting.

Under Virginia law, possession of marijuana is classified as a 
misdemeanor carrying punishment of up to 30 days in jail and/or fines 
of up to $500. Subsequent convictions carry a jail sentence of up to 
a year and/or fines of up to $2,500.

A memo to councilors from City Manager Maurice Jones and Longo 
includes statistics intended to show that people charged with 
marijuana possession are more likely to be convicted of another crime 
and less likely to successfully complete probation.

Based on data covering three years, the probation success rate for 
marijuana-possession cases was 69 percent, compared with 85 percent 
for all cases. The re-conviction rate for marijuana-possession cases 
was 42 percent, compared with 24 percent for all cases.

The idea for the resolution was brought to the council by Jordan 
McNeish, a 23-year-old activist formerly involved with the Occupy 
Charlottesville movement who has since founded a local chapter of the 
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. McNeish 
openly has acknowledged that he has had past legal trouble involving 
marijuana possession.

Though a resolution was passed, councilors stressed that marijuana is 
still illegal in Charlottesville.

Graham Moomaw writes for The Daily Progress of Charlottesville.
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