Little Rock City Board denies ordinance to make marijuana charges a low police priority

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Tuesday's meeting of the Little Rock Board of directors got heated as its members considered making marijuana offenses the lowest priority for Little Rock police.

In the end, that proposed ordinance was defeated.

It was mainly a back and forth between Police Chief Keith Humphrey and board member Ken Richardson, who drafted the ordinance.

The proposed ordinance states that the investigation, citation, arrest, seizure or prosecution of misdemeanor marijuana offenses by adults would be the lowest law enforcement priority.

Richardson added that a simple marijuana conviction could prohibit someone from receiving federal aid, a job, or even housing.

But Chief Humphrey strongly showed his opposition to it, saying that it has the potential to increase marijuana use... if citizens think they wouldn't get in trouble.

He adds that he wants it to be up to his officers' discretion on what is considered a priority. "As a police chief, I can't tell my officers to make this a low priority. What I can say is, this is what we're focused on, and we've been focused on overall crime and violent crime. That's what our focus is, and I have to be very careful with doing that," said Humphrey.

In all, the voting break-down was close. Four members voted in favor, five in opposition with one absence.