Pubdate: Sat, 30 Apr 2016
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2016 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.
Author: Lucresha Thomas

KUDOS FOR POT VOTE

Mayor Buddy Dyer and the city of Orlando recently passed, 4-3, the 
initial vote to deprioritize arrests for possession of small amounts 
of marijuana. I'm thankful for Dyer and Commissioners Regina Hill, 
Patty Sheehan and Robert Stuart for their support of the ordinance. 
I, unfortunately, left the City Council meeting feeling disappointed 
in Commissioner Samuel Ings for voting against it.

We live in a society where young black men and boys have been a 
target of the war on drugs. Ings argues that this policy would 
tarnish the image of Orlando as a family vacation destination.

I find this not only offensive to our community but to the families 
broken by the mass incarceration in his district. Marijuana is not 
the problem, but the ordinance would reduce arrests. It's his job to 
do right by the people of Orlando, and the ramifications will only 
continue to affect people of color until they are changed.

We must continue this conversation as we head into the final vote on May 9.

Lucresha Thomas Orlando
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom