Weedpipe
Active Member
Starting tomorrow, those caught with a small amount of pot (30 grams or less) will be issued a summary violation. This will save the citys criminal courts the burden of over 4,000 marijuana possession cases each year. Philadelphias new District Attorney Seth Williams announced the change in April as part of a broad court-reform package.
PhillyNORMLs analysis of the local arrest data and continued discussions with city officials were instrumental to the change. Chris Goldstein, the groups Communications Director, led the project.
Goldstein appeared with Williams on the WHYY program Radio Times with Marty Moss-Cohane to discuss the procedure shift.
Philadelphia is moving toward changing how minor marijuana possession offenses will be treated. Joining Marty to discuss the changes and what prompted them are Philadelphia District Attorney SETH WILLIAMS and CHRIS GOLDSTEIN of Philly NORML, an advocacy group opposing marijuana prohibition. Then, we'll talk to Carroll Doherty of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, about a recent poll they conducted that showed widespread support for the legal use of medical marijuana, as well as growing support for marijuana legalization. MORE INFO
Last month when former DA Lynne Abraham blasted the change, Goldstein responded with an OPED published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on May 17, 2010: Lynne Abraham's costly reefer madness
This is a pragmatic, procedural shift that was supported by other city officials and the state Supreme Court. It is not marijuana legalization, as Abraham claimed, or even the decriminalization that has happened in other states and cities. It simply aligns Philadelphia's procedures with those in the rest of Pennsylvania. READ FULL
Philadelphia has seen a significant increase in marijuana arrests over the last decade. In 2008 PhillyNORML found that 4,716 adults were arrested for marijuana possession of less than 30 grams. Every individual endured a mandatory custodial arrest and full Criminal Misdemeanor prosecution in court.
Summary violations are issued for offenses such as Public Urination or Disorderly Conduct. The procedure for a summary violation gives police officers the option of performing a custodial arrest or issuing a court appearance date. Offenders then appear before streamlined diversion court pleading to non-misdemeanor charges. Consequences include fines, attending classes or performing community service.
Every other municipality in Pennsylvania allows this type of treatment for minor marijuana offenders. Thus, Philadelphias practice was harsher and more costly than anywhere else in the state...until tomorrow.
PhillyNORML, the ACLU of PA and other local advocacy groups welcome the change.
News Forum: rollitup.org
Source: Philadelphia NORML
Author: Chris Goldstein
Contact: Philadelphia NORML
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC
Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-29881-Philadelphia-NORML-Examiner~y2010m6d7-Philadelphia-New-marijuana-procedure-in-place-on-June-8th
PhillyNORMLs analysis of the local arrest data and continued discussions with city officials were instrumental to the change. Chris Goldstein, the groups Communications Director, led the project.
Goldstein appeared with Williams on the WHYY program Radio Times with Marty Moss-Cohane to discuss the procedure shift.
Philadelphia is moving toward changing how minor marijuana possession offenses will be treated. Joining Marty to discuss the changes and what prompted them are Philadelphia District Attorney SETH WILLIAMS and CHRIS GOLDSTEIN of Philly NORML, an advocacy group opposing marijuana prohibition. Then, we'll talk to Carroll Doherty of the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, about a recent poll they conducted that showed widespread support for the legal use of medical marijuana, as well as growing support for marijuana legalization. MORE INFO
Last month when former DA Lynne Abraham blasted the change, Goldstein responded with an OPED published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on May 17, 2010: Lynne Abraham's costly reefer madness
This is a pragmatic, procedural shift that was supported by other city officials and the state Supreme Court. It is not marijuana legalization, as Abraham claimed, or even the decriminalization that has happened in other states and cities. It simply aligns Philadelphia's procedures with those in the rest of Pennsylvania. READ FULL
Philadelphia has seen a significant increase in marijuana arrests over the last decade. In 2008 PhillyNORML found that 4,716 adults were arrested for marijuana possession of less than 30 grams. Every individual endured a mandatory custodial arrest and full Criminal Misdemeanor prosecution in court.
Summary violations are issued for offenses such as Public Urination or Disorderly Conduct. The procedure for a summary violation gives police officers the option of performing a custodial arrest or issuing a court appearance date. Offenders then appear before streamlined diversion court pleading to non-misdemeanor charges. Consequences include fines, attending classes or performing community service.
Every other municipality in Pennsylvania allows this type of treatment for minor marijuana offenders. Thus, Philadelphias practice was harsher and more costly than anywhere else in the state...until tomorrow.
PhillyNORML, the ACLU of PA and other local advocacy groups welcome the change.
News Forum: rollitup.org
Source: Philadelphia NORML
Author: Chris Goldstein
Contact: Philadelphia NORML
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC
Website: http://www.examiner.com/x-29881-Philadelphia-NORML-Examiner~y2010m6d7-Philadelphia-New-marijuana-procedure-in-place-on-June-8th