SARASOTA, Fla. — Sarasota City Commissioner Hagen Brody is proposing decriminalizing marijuana for amounts under 20 grams. If approved, Sarasota would join more than a dozen municipalities across the state.
Under current law, if a police officer catches someone with less than 20 grams of marijuana, they’ll end in handcuffs and at the county jail for a year.
Sarasota Police say last year officers made 155 arrest charges, there were 135 court summons, five juvenile citations and one non-arrest complaint. Numbers are much lower this year with 18 charges and 16 summons; and all are for having less than 20 grams of marijuana.
“It’s another tool for law enforcement to use,” Brody explained. “Allowing them to focus more on serious issues violent crimes.”
Brody’s proposal wouldn't change state law. It can’t. But, it would give officers the ability to use their own discretion.
“It comes down to giving access to people who need these products,” says Shelby Isaacson, she owns Second and Seed, a hemp-based product store, specializing in CBD oils.
“If we don’t start talking about it try to figure it out economically, we’ll be behind compared to other city, states," Isaacson said.
Brody hopes if the amendment passes, police officers will choose a civil citation over an arrest.
“Send them on their way without burdening them with a criminal charge on something that’s evolving public policy-wise in our city, state and nation," he said. "I think it’s a win for taxpayers and for that individual.”
Consider this, according to the Florida Tax Watch group and the Department of Corrections, it costs taxpayers approximately $18,000 to jail someone for a year.
Commissioners spent time during their Monday night meeting to discuss the issue and unanimously approved of the city attorney drafting an amendment to the city's code.
The next step is that the subject would be brought back for a public hearing before commissioners vote on it.
The Sarasota Police Department will not comment on the issue until after today’s meeting, but Brody said if approved, the city and SPD would work out guidelines to follow along with fines.
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