Philadelphia: City of Brotherly Love and Rogue Cops

Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, the Cradle of Liberty and… the city of rogue cops?

Philadelphia’s City Council recently passed a bill, with veto-proof majority, that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis (less than 30 grams). Law enforcement would no longer be required (key word here), to arrest citizens for the plant, and instead could issue a $25 fine. The bill specifies that if someone is unable to identify themselves or if they have warrants, officers may still arrest them. Selling, driving while stoned, and possession by minors would still remain illegal. The city now waits to see if Mayor Nutter will sign the bill, though due to the veto-proof majority, it may not matter if he wishes to veto it.

Decriminalization may not be legalization, but it sure is a step in the right direction. Though Philly may have half the crime rate of it’s neighbor Camden, NJ (are you listening Christie?), that isn’t saying much, since Camden was, once again, rated the most dangerous city in the nation. The point being that decriminalization of cannabis should allow Philly law enforcement to address serious concerns such as the rapes, murders and burglaries which threaten the safety of Philadelphia citizens.

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey

However, things aren’t as sunny in Philadelphia as they may seem. Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey spoke out to announce his distaste for the bill, and his intention to continue arresting people for cannabis, regardless of the vote. The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted him as saying, “I am not in favor at all of any form of [marijuana] legalization… We still have to treat [marijuana possession] as a misdemeanor until we are told otherwise by state law. … State law trumps city ordinances.” 

Many, including the senior attorney for the city, and some of the councilmen who passed the bill, have spoken out against this perception, defying it and bringing attention to other cities in Pennsylvania which have opted out of cannabis arrests in favor of more effective law enforcement.

Ramsey went on to comment that decriminalization will not save cops time, since they would still have to process any confiscated cannabis — and maybe he is right. That still seems a foolish way to spend law enforcement’s time, confiscating cannabis and filling out paperwork, all to collect a $25 fine.

But rather than this being an excuse to continue arresting people, this is a clear testament to why law enforcement should simply turn their attention away from petty “crimes” such as possessing cannabis, and instead focus their attention on things that matter – like the over 7,000 robberies reported in 2012 alone. The time that cannabis arrests and fines waste for law enforcement is clear evidence of why legalization makes the most sense for the City of Brotherly Love.

There remains another reason, however, that Commissioner Ramsey should be on board with decriminalization in Philadelphia, and that is the stark racial disparity in arrests. Data from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System shows that of the over 4,200 arrests made for cannabis possession in 2o12, black Americans were arrested at five times the rate of white Americans in Philadelphia. This is clearly racism in action, and should be a call to anyone with a sense of morality to put an end to these wasteful and harmful prohibition laws.

LOVE Park, Philadelphia, PA

Councilman James F. Kenney, who sponsored the bill, sees the madness of continuing a failed war on drugs, “If no action is taken and no policy change initiated, we risk having hundreds more young people arrested and with criminal records, when it can be avoided.”

He continued, “Philadelphia is seen as a progressive city, yet it is the most regressive [in cannabis law].” Kenney urged the mayor to sign the bill swiftly, stating that changes to cannabis law need to be made at a local level because, he believes, “the State of Pennsylvania will never legalize marijuana.”

Never say never, Kenney — but despite what drug policy changes may occur in the future, Councilman Kenney is completely correct in his assessment that waiting to bring more sensible drug policies to Philadelphia is not a wise choice. Positive cannabis reform is needed in the cradle of liberty to bring peace and progress to this great city.

When that happens, Philadelphia law enforcement are encouraged to take a lesson in brotherly love, and help put an end to the destructive war on drugs.