Hennepin County Will No Longer Prosecute Small Marijuana Cases

Minneapolis (Learfield News Service) -  People caught with a small amount of marijuana in Hennepin County will no longer be prosecuted.

County Attorney Mike Freeman says the new policy is a response to a "flaw" in Minnesota’s marijuana law and not a next step to legalization. Freeman said, "you can have up to 42-point-five grams of marijuana and it's a petty misdemeanor and a fine, but if you have 45 grams, it's a felony, which is too big a jump and inequitably reaches people that frankly shouldn't be looking at a felony offense." Freeman says the penalty doesn't fit the crime -- and also results in racial disparities.