Hundreds of Marijuana Arrests One Month After Decriminalization

[phill4paul]

Theye just don't care.........


Philly Police promised to arrest people for pot even after decriminalization, so far they are staying true to their word.
The Free Thought Project
John Vibes
July 22, 2014

Hundreds of people in the city of Philadelphia have been arrested on marijuana possession charges just one month after the city council voted to decriminalize the substance. On June 19th the city voted for decriminalization, but since it went into effect, 264 people have been charged with possession of marijuana.

Of those 264 people, 140 of them were charged with no other crimes at all, and had no other reason to be arrested aside from the fact that they were holding marijuana, which was supposedly decriminalized at the time. As for the additional 126 people who were charged with additional crimes, the vast majority of them were nonviolent crimes related to other drug offenses.

Even though decriminalization became official last month, Mayor Michael Nutter has publicly opposed the bill and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey threatened to continue arresting people even if the decriminalization measure passed into law, apparently he has followed through on his promise.

Councilman Jim Kenny, one of the proponents of the decriminalization bill, told local reporters that “The issue for me is that we have a 26% poverty rate. I need to have everyone working, and for a lot of these people, its impossible to get jobs, all over a nickel bag of cannabis or a couple of joints.”


Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/hundreds-arrests-month-decriminalization-philadelphia/#Do20wJSI5JDW09l0.99

[Philhelm]

Remember this when someone says that the police don't make the rules and that they just enforce them. It appears that the police do indeed discern whether they will enforce a law (or not, in this case) after all.

[phill4paul]

Remember this when someone says that the police don't make the rules and that they just enforce them. It appears that the police do indeed discern whether they will enforce a law (or not, in this case) after all.

"I don't make the laws, I just enforce them. If you don't like it change the laws. Blargh, blargh, blargh."

[pcosmar]

And that is where the States Attorney is supposed to step in and put a stop to it.. Remove all of those involved and replace them.

[presence]

And that is where the States Attorney is supposed to step in and put a stop to it.. Remove all of those involved and replace them.

This is a local philly decrim; its still a crime in PA

[Kotin]

Police will unfortunately be the last people to still fight legalization even after everyone else has come that way..

You are messing with a huge revenue stream here.. They know this and are not happy.


They will do what they want regardless of law just as they do now with other areas of their "job".

Police must be abolished. No question about it.

[phill4paul]

Police will unfortunately be the last people to still fight legalization even after everyone else has come that way..

You are messing with a huge revenue stream here.. They know this and are not happy.


They will do what they want regardless of law just as they do now with other areas of their "job".

Police must be abolished. No question about it.

Highwaymen. Robbers. Just now showing that the cover of "law" is of no importance to them.

[satchelmcqueen]

couldnt someone easily bring forth a lawsuit and win a higher court level if the local doesnt follow the law? couldnt they sue the cops as individuals? something seems could be done to stop this bs.

[phill4paul]

couldnt someone easily bring forth a lawsuit and win a higher court level if the local doesnt follow the law? couldnt they sue the cops as individuals? something seems could be done to stop this bs.

Cops, for the most part, cannot be sued as individuals. Qualified immunity.

[Anti Federalist]

LOL @ "Well, if you don't like the law, get it changed."

[Mani]

LOL @ "Well, if you don't like the law, get it changed."


Can we go back and find every goddamn twat who said some form of the above and link them this fucking article. Fucking cunts say they only enforce the law, they don't make it....and now these fucks are still arresting people!?!?


Yes we all know the truth is, they need this law to protect their revenue. That's the truth and this just shows the war on drugs is a goddamn money making business model to the cops and nothing else. Why else are they continuing if it's decriminalized?????

[Keith and stuff]

This is a local philly decrim; its still a crime in PA

I wonder if this is like in Maine. The Portland voters voted to legalize marijuana or whatever. But there are still Maine state laws against it. So people are still being charged in Portland because the local rules aren't enforceable and meaningless as far as all law enforcement is concerned. Many states have laws such that where the state is where most of the state and local power rests. That's why it is so important to try to free a whole state, and not just 1 city. Freeing just 1 city is mostly pointless in most states.

[devil21]

This is a local philly decrim; its still a crime in PA

Decriminalization means no arrest allowed by law under whatever circumstances the law provides for. It doesn't mean you can't be arrested for possessing two ounces as a dealer. I don't know what their ordinance says but legal "possession" covers practically anything. Just reporting people were still arrested for possession after decriminalization is half-assed journalism.

[JK/SEA]

You are messing with a huge revenue stream here.. They know this and are not happy.


and THIS..is the pure truth of it all. Nothing more needs to be said.