The governor of North Carolina is officially backing marijuana decriminalization in the state, saying it’s time to “end the stigma” and announcing steps he’s taken to explore his options for independently granting relief to people with existing convictions.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D) spoke about the policy on Friday during a meeting of a criminal justice task force that he convened in 2020. That panel ultimately recommended decriminalization, and this marks the first time the governor is explicitly endorsing the reform.
Cooper raised the issue in response to President Joe Biden’s surprise actions on Thursday to pardon people who’ve committed federal marijuana possession offenses and call on governors across the U.S. to provide similar relief at the state-level.
“This task force has already met this issue head-on by recommending…that simple possession of a small amount of marijuana should not be a crime,” he said. “Law enforcement and the criminal justice system are under-resourced right now, and they should be focused on stopping violent crime, drug trafficking and other threats to safe communities.”
“We also know that a conviction of simple possession can mar people’s records for life and maybe even prevent them from getting a job,” Cooper said.
Read full article on Marijuana Moment
