ORDINANCE NO. __________, SERIES 2019
TITLE
AN ORDINANCE CREATING A NEW SUBSECTION OF THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES TO MAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA INTENDED FOR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION THE CITY'S LOWEST LAW ENFORCEMENT PRIORITY (AS AMENDED).
BODY
SPONSORED BY: COUNCILMEMBERS COAN, FOWLER,
GREEN, JAMES, SHANKLIN AND SEXTON SMITH
WHEREAS, within the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro area, numerous individuals are arrested each year for nonviolent marijuana offenses, which result in a substantial cost to taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, making adult marijuana possession intended for personal consumption the city's lowest law enforcement priority will reduce expenditures on law enforcement and punishment of these offenses and resources would be better spent fighting serious and violent crimes; and
WHEREAS, prosecuting individuals for possessing small amounts of marijuana does little to deter drug abuse but does increase the number of people negatively affected by criminal records; and
WHEREAS, a growing number of states and cities have recently passed laws that decriminalize make possession of marijuana and specifically small amounts of marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority for personal consumption; and
WHEREAS, Metro Council now adopts the lowest level enforcement priority for possession of marijuana for personal consumption for Louisville Metro Government; and
WHEREAS, the enactment of a new section of Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances ("LMCO") will make investigation, citations, and arrests of adults for possession of a small amount of marijuana intended for personal consumption the city's lowest law enforcement priority, without superseding existing state or federal law.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: Creates a new section of LMCO as follows:
? 39.XX PURPOSE AND POLICY STATEMENT....
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