NORTH CAROLINA (WWAY) — The North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice has adopted recommendations related to marijuana possession in the state, Attorney General Josh Stein announced Wednesday.
The recommendation includes decriminalizing marijuana possession in “small amounts and to further study potential legalization of marijuana possession, cultivation, and sale,” according to a release.
“You cannot talk about improving racial equity in our criminal justice system without talking about marijuana,” Attorney General Josh Stein said. “White and Black North Carolinians use marijuana at similar rates, yet Black people are disproportionately arrested and sentenced. Additionally, it is time for North Carolina to start having real conversations about a safe, measured, public health approach to potentially legalizing marijuana.”
Right now, possession of up to ½ ounce of marijuana is a class 3 misdemeanor, not subject to imprisonment but subject to a fine up to $200. In 2019, there were 31,287 charges and 8,520 convictions for this offense; 61 percent of those convicted were nonwhite.
Possession of more than ½ ounce up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana is a class 1 misdemeanor, subject to up to 45 days imprisonment and a $200 fine. In 2019, there were 3,422 charges and 1,909 convictions for this offense; 70 percent of those…
