Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jan 2017
Source: Orlando Sentinel (FL)
Copyright: 2017 Orlando Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.orlandosentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/325
Note: Rarely prints out-of-state LTEs.

ORLANDO RIGHT TO LESSEN POT PUNISHMENT

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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