Back in 2014, an ordinance to decriminalize possession of marijuana in minimal amounts was passed but vetoed by Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry. More or less a year later, the same fate was bestowed upon a similar ordinance.
The proposed legislation would have made possession of one ounce or less of marijuana and possession of any drug paraphernalia a civil infraction, with a fine of $25 with no criminal conviction or jail time. At present, two weeks of jail time is the punishment for marijuana-related first offenses and up to 90 days for subsequent offenses.
According to Emily Kaltenbach, New Mexico state director of Drug Policy Alliance, Mayor Berry’s decision on drug-related ordinances are quite conservative and antiquated. His singular view of the state and federal law limits his capacity to see beyond the misconception about marijuana. She also said that decriminalizing minimal cannabis possessions would reduce cases of discrimination and improve the efficiency and effectivity of the law enforcement. With lesser time needed on low-level crimes, such as marijuana-related crimes, the police would have more time on their hands to focus on much serious crimes that put people at greater risks.
Santa Fe, New Mexico decriminalized small amounts of marijuana in 2014. Santa Fe County voted 73% in favor of statewide decriminalization and Bernalillo County voted 60%. More than 50% of Albuquerque voters in all nine city council districts voted to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.
Though the people have spoken valiantly, persistently and conspicuously about their support to decriminalize marijuana, Mayor Berry may seem to be blind and deaf to the people’s qualms.