Albuquerque Decriminalizes Marijuana at the City Level.

Posted this on the PoliBoard, but thought the OT would enjoy it as well.

quote:

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Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller announced Thursday that he signed a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The bill, passed by the City Council on April 2, makes possession of an ounce or less of marijuana punishable with a $25 civil fine.

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Perfect common sense reasoning:

quote:

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“Removing the criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana will free up precious resources for law enforcement, who have plenty on their plate already,” said Keller in a statement. “We’re facing real challenges in Albuquerque, and this is a step in the right direction to allow our officers the flexibility to better prioritize their time tackling violent crime and property crime in our city.”

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the cops agree:

quote:

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The bill received some praise from new Albuquerque Police Department Chief of Police Michael Geier, who was hired by Keller. “This new legislation allows officers to focus on violent crime, property crime and drunk driving," Geier said in a statement. "It’s important for the public to be aware that this does not change state or federal law and officers will still have a choice to pursue criminal charges when appropriate.”

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LINK

Interesting that they are approaching this from a resource saving standpoint without trying to make a profit.

Will we continue to see more and more actions like this while FedGov continues to squander an amazing opportunity?