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Huntsville residents weigh in on possible changes in marijuana possession charges

Mention of replacing arrests for summons in some cases of marijuana possession took place in Huntsville earlier this year.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The decriminalization and legalization of marijuana is an issue close to many.

Community and council members continued to express this as they discussed the changing of the current process that's in place when it comes to being found with marijuana, under an ounce, in your possession.

Earlier this year, on April 20, 2022, members of the Huntsville City Council got together to discuss these changes. 

In-depth, what was discussed, was not the decriminalization of marijuana here in Huntsville, but rather a shift in the process of prosecuting those who've received a marijuana-related charge. 

Instead of always getting arrested and being taken into custody, suspects may receive a summons to go to court. The consequences would still be there but without being immediately taken to jail.

Huntsville residents who attended to share their public opionion shared how marijuana has positively impacted the lives of people they know:

"Americans everywhere are tightening their belts and stretching their dollars further... Pass this resolution, stretch our tax dollars further, by not wasting millions of dollars for a harmless plant. 60% of Americans agree that this should be legal for personal, recreational use. I could go on for hours and hours, of stories of fellow veterans, after my service, that are in states where it's legal, where I talked to one and he said if it wasn't for marijuana, I would have killed myself. Stop arresting people for this!"

Others had questions:

"So, what are we going to do for the people that are literally too poor to be free? And how are we going to actually address this as a society? You know, and I'm talking to everyone here."

"I think it's pretty clear who from city council showed up for this. How much support is there from the other members? Not that you have to answer but I'm concerned you know."

Others shared their testimonies of dealing with this kind of thing themselves... and the toll it takes:

"For cannabis possession, the default amount of time that you would be under the probation would be two years. the only way you could get the probation to be less than two years is if you paid more money. Whereas at the same time, you could be- you could be accused of sex crimes and go through that same diversion program. and by default without having to pay any extra, your probation time is six months. and I mean, as a sexual assault survivor, that it was... It's still traumatic for me and it's been years since I've been through that program."

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