Politics
Confusion Over Atlanta Marijuana Decrim
UPDATE: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced on Wednesday morning that he signed marijuana decriminalization into law. The news follows false reports, recounted below, that he had vetoed the measure.
Confusion swelled Wednesday morning over the status of Atlanta’s pending marijuana decriminalization ordinance.
Mayor Kasim Reed (D) had until midnight on Tuesday to sign or veto the legislation, or let it go into effect without his signature.
A little after 6:00 AM on Wednesday, the City Council, which had approved the proposal last week by a vote of 15-0, tweeted that Reed had vetoed it.
Good morning #Atlanta. We received an email overnight that the Mayor VETOED our marijuana legislation for less than one ounce. More to come
— Atlanta City Council (@ATLCouncil) October 11, 2017
Reed, however, denied it in a series of tweets reacting to news reports about the alleged veto.
Do you all actually believe this? Tune in to @V103Atlanta at 8AM to hear my response. https://t.co/ay2mRZiWZm
— Kasim Reed (@KasimReed) October 11, 2017
These folks playing games with you. https://t.co/NYfmleY3mQ
— Kasim Reed (@KasimReed) October 11, 2017
The Council issued a correction, saying that the veto message they received actually concerned separate legislation over a land sale.
RECALL: Mayor did not veto marijuana legislation
— Atlanta City Council (@ATLCouncil) October 11, 2017
CORRECTION: Mayor's veto was regarding the sale of a portion of land to Hapeville, GA
— Atlanta City Council (@ATLCouncil) October 11, 2017
Following the Council’s unanimous passage of the decriminalization proposal last week, Reed tweeted that he would sign it.
Thank you to @KwanzaHall & @KeishaBottoms for your leadership on marijuana reform. I look forward to reviewing & signing this legislation.
— Kasim Reed (@KasimReed) October 2, 2017
Per the measure, the threat of jail time for possession of less than an ounce of cannabis would be eliminated under local code. Instead, those caught with small amounts would be subject to a maximum fine of $75.
Currently, people who encounter police while possessing marijuana face fines of up to $1,000 and as many as six months in jail.
But the changes would only apply to city policy. Even if the proposal takes effect, Georgia state marijuana criminalization would remain on the books and enforceable in the city of Atlanta.
Earlier this year, Reed called marijuana a “gateway drug,” and has historically been critical of efforts to reform cannabis laws.
The official status of the decriminalization proposal is currently unknown.
