Orlando Likely Going to Pass Decriminalization Bill

Orlando’s City Council is going to make a final vote on Monday on a bill that, if passed, would decriminalize small amounts of cannabis. It would also give cops the ability to give out a fine rather than put people in jail.

“People need to know and understand that this is making it easier,” Ings stated at the April 18 council meeting. “We should want criminals to stop being criminals, not making them feel confident to use and possess marijuana.”

At the moment, activists from Organize Now are asking Ings to act “on behalf of his community” in a letter written by the group’s Committee co-chair Korey Wheeler.

“District 6 encompasses a large African-American community directly impacted by the false ‘war on drugs’ narrative,” the letter states. “His vote against deprioritization of minor marijuana offenses subjects many of his constituents to higher arrest rates than their white counterparts, and perpetuates negative stereotypes against the very community he represents.”

The letter adds:

“Despite calls for action from his community, Ings proves he is more concerned with serving the interests of local tourism giants making millions of dollars a year than protecting his very people from discriminatory practices.

On three different occasions, Organize Now contacted Commissioner Ings for a meeting but received no reply. Deprioritizing arrests for non-violent misdemeanors would free up our criminal justice system and address real public safety challenges in our community. It’s time Commissioner Ings listened to his constituents and acted on behalf of his community.

Orlando should follow the lead of 24 states and hundreds of municipalities across the country, breaking away from false, fear-mongering rhetoric and shifting its focus to its real public safety challenges. By building on progress and investing into local programs tackling the underlying causes of crime with the money saved by eliminating incarcerations for small amounts of marijuana possession, we can come together to find solutions that help our communities.”