It’s about time.
That’s what a lot of folks seem to be saying after the Atlanta City Council unanimously passed legislation that would keep people out of jail for carrying an ounce of weed or less.
As it stands now, anyone caught with an ounce or less faces six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, but once the new law goes into effect the penalty will just be a $75 ticket and that’s it.
“Currently, we are seeing families torn apart, we’re seeing young people lose their scholarships, we’re seeing people become unemployable, all because of possession of less than an ounce,” said Councilman Kwanza Hall, who’s also running for Atlanta’s mayor. “And primarily the neighborhoods, the zip codes, the people are people of color living in parts of our city that have been left behind, that have been neglected and they are being penalized greater than anyone else … Ninety-two percent of the people arrested for marijuana possession of less than an ounce and who are in our jails are African American and that is wrong.”
Atlanta rappers like 2 Chainz, Killer Mike and Big Boi have already taken to social media and praised the new law, which you can see below.
What do you think about weed now being decriminalized in the city of Atlanta?
