Lawmakers cool to easing pot penalty
Quad City Times, IA
02/09/06
DES MOINES — The Johnson County sheriff told Iowa legislators Wednesday that the state should reduce the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
“I think small increments of possession of marijuana should be treated as a simple misdemeanors where the officer on the street can cite and release and not have to bring them to jail,” Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said.
He said his office is overrun with marijuana offenses, which take time and funding away from dealing with more serious crimes. He estimated that there were 700 arrests in his county last year for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Johnson County includes Iowa City and the University of Iowa.
02/09/06
DES MOINES — The Johnson County sheriff told Iowa legislators Wednesday that the state should reduce the penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
“I think small increments of possession of marijuana should be treated as a simple misdemeanors where the officer on the street can cite and release and not have to bring them to jail,” Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said.
He said his office is overrun with marijuana offenses, which take time and funding away from dealing with more serious crimes. He estimated that there were 700 arrests in his county last year for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Johnson County includes Iowa City and the University of Iowa.
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