Baltimore's top prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, says she'll stop prosecuting marijuana possession cases

[bigtree]

The New York Times @nytimes
Marijuana is officially against the law in Maryland but Baltimore’s top prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, said that she would stop prosecuting marijuana possession cases within the city limits, regardless of quantity, and seek to vacate almost 5,000 convictions

NYT:

____“If you ask that mom whose son was killed where she would rather us spend our time and our attention — on solving that murder or prosecuting marijuana laws — it’s a no-brainer,” Ms. Mosby said in an interview in her office on Monday. “I don’t even think there’s a choice there.”

She also said that with a poor record of solving crime — only one in four homicides was solved last year — law enforcement needs to foster more good will. “How are we going to expect folks to want to cooperate with us,” she said, “when you’re stopping, you’re frisking, you’re arresting folks for marijuana possession?”

Under Ms. Mosby’s new rules, people will not be prosecuted for possessing marijuana, regardless of quantity, and will not be charged with distribution or intent to distribute just because they have a large amount in the absence of other indicators of drug dealing such as scales and baggies.

Those charged with felony distribution for the first time will be automatically referred to a diversion program designed to help them enter the job market. Successful completion of the program can result in expungement of the case.

read: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/us/baltimore-marijuana-possession.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes

[MagickMuffin]

1. Finally a sensible prosecutor

Now who will be the next brave and courageous prosecutor to step up???

[MineralMan]

2. Shades of 1971 in SLO County, CA

That year, the DA in San Luis Obispo County, CA, declared that the DA's office would no longer prosecute simple possession charges for marijuana, in quantities of 1 oz. or less.

Cal Poly SLO Students cheered this decision and celebrated by having a smoke-in on the courthouse lawn. I remember it well.

Note: 1971 or 1972? I'm not exactly sure. I was stoned, so I don't remember exactly what year it was.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. watch for a reincarnation of Rotten Ronnie

Some GOPer will soon be foaming at the mouth about a zero tolerance policy to stop drug-crazed stoners from rampaging through our cities, looting, burning, raping, and munching all the Doritos.

[Scurrilous]

4. K&R