The City Council has approved a new marijuana policy that allows police officers to issue civil citations instead of arresting people in possession of small amounts of marijuana.
The ordinance represents the formalizing of a policy already in place. According to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, out of 43,000 arrests that were booked into the Orange County jail system last year, less than one percent were charged with only marijuana possession. The statistics do not, however, detail whether or not marijuana arrests were made with other nonviolent offenes. Residents and upporters of the measure warned the ordinance does not go far enough.
Commissioners Jim Gray, Tony Ortiz and Sam Ings voted against the measure.
Commissioner Ings said the ordinance will make it easier for criminals to use and sell marijuana in Orlando. He said the ordinance would damaage Orlando’s family-friendly image, jeopardizing our local economy. He called th ordinance “not in the best interest of our community.”
Commissioner Regina Hill supported the ordinance, but expressed concern about the police officers’ use of discretion, and the potential for uneven application of the law.
Under the new ordinance, people in possession of marijuana (small amunts) in the City of Orlando will face a $50 fine for the first offense and $100 for the second offense. The downside is that the marijuana citations will become a part of a person’st permanent record, and potential employers would have access to that information.
