POSSESSING SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA WOULD BE DECRIMINALIZED UNDER A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT’S NOW BEFORE THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY WOULD BE A 25-DOLLAR FINE. EMILY KALTENBACH WITH THE NEW MEXICO DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE SAYS THAT WOULD FREE UP POLICE TO TACKLE SERIOUS CRIME. SHE SAYS THE CITY NEEDS TO REFOCUS ITS RESOURCES.
A SIMILAR MEASURE WAS VETOED BY FORMER MAYOR R-J BERRY. KALTENBACH SAYS WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION IN PLACE, THERE’S A BETTER CHANCE THAT THE LESSER PENALTIES WILL BE ENACTED THIS TIME AROUND.
THE PROPOSAL GOES BEFORE A CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK.
