Pubdate: Sat, 09 Apr 2016
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2016 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Contact:  http://www.ajc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28
Author: Kristina Torres

CLARKSTON'S LEGALIZATION CHALLENGED

Mayor Ted Terry may want to make Clarkston the first Georgia city to 
decriminalize marijuana, but one of the state's leading law 
enforcement advocates had a blunt message about the effort: No way.

"The only thing I can say about that is no municipal government has 
the authority to decriminalize anything that the Georgia General 
Assembly and federal government still say is a crime," said Chuck 
Spahos, executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia.

"State law and federal law will still apply to the citizens within 
the municipality" even if Clarkston enacts the proposal, said Spahos, 
who is also solicitor general in Henry County.

Terry said Thursday that the City Council's public safety committee 
will review whether to make possession of less than 1 ounce of 
marijuana a ticket-only offense, putting it on the same level as a 
run-of-the-mill traffic violation. He expects the full council to 
bring it to a vote as early as May.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom