HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) – Some civic and political groups are urging Huntsville-area officials to stop criminally charging people who have marijuana.
The Huntsville Times reports that the Tennessee Valley Progressive Alliance and 20 other groups sent a letter to Huntsville and Madison County leaders urging police and prosecutors to stop enforcing laws against marijuana possession.
The letter argues that stopping enforcement would ease racial disparities in policing, allow officials to focus on violent crimes and improve police-community relations. Signers included the Madison County Democratic Party, the NAACP of Huntsville and Madison County and the League of Women Voters of the Tennessee Valley.
Alliance leader David Odom says the letter received no responses. Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard said he dismissed the letter because he’s sworn to uphold the law.
“No matter how I felt about it, there is no way I would chart a different course in how we handle things,” Broussard said.