North Carolina governor pushes to legalize marijuana possession after Biden pardons: 'End this stigma'

foxnews.com:

Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and his attorney general are pushing the GOP-led state legislature to decriminalize possessing small amounts of marijuana following President Biden's recent pardon of thousands who were convicted for the same offense under federal law. "Conviction of simple possession can mar people's records for life and maybe even prevent them from getting a job," Cooper told a Friday task force meeting on racial equity and criminal justice. "The General Assembly didn't pass your recommendations on this last session, but I believe they should.

North Carolina should take steps to end this stigma." The governor established the task force in June 2020 amid the riots that took place nationwide in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper appears before President Biden speaks to guests during a visit to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University on April 14, 2022, in Greensboro. (Allison Joyce/Getty Images) The 24-member panel of law enforcement officers, attorneys, civil rights advocates and state officials recommended in their 2020 report that North Carolina state legislators replace the misdemeanor charge for possessing up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana with a civil offense akin to a traffic infraction.The Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly did not act on the task force's recommendation.

Under current North Carolina law, possession of more than 0.5 ounces is punishable by up to 45 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines, without exemptions for medical use.