Legalized or medicinal marijuana may be a state issue, but it could play a small, supporting role in 
some municipal elections in the 305 after local police agencies have suggested fines instead of arrests for possession of a small, personal amount.
Last week, the Miami-Dade Police and Miami Beach Police departments suggested fining people found with small amounts of pot rather than forcing them to face criminal charges that usually do not stick.
It didn’t take long for a candidate to seek that stoner voter bloc.
Javier Gonzalez — one of nine-and-counting candidates fighting 
for the Miami commission seat vacated by termed-out Marc Sarnoff in District 2 — sent a press release Tuesday in favor of the new policy, now proposed by Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman at the suggestion of the brass.
“As city commissioner, I’ll be a strong advocate of sensible marijuana policy and work to make sure police officers use their resources to protect our city from those who truly threaten public safety,” said Gonzalez, who was elected to the Grove Village Council is 2013 and just resigned as chairman to run for office.
He is running against a slew of candidates, including the commissioner’s wife and perceived front runner, Teresa Sarnoff.
“I urge local policymakers to support this measure and work with the Miami-Dade Police Department to ensure that – when it comes to individuals who engage in victimless, private marijuana use – our values are reflected in our response.”
Gonzalez called it “a strong step in favor of sensible marijuana policy,” and applauded Miami-Dade Police “for recognizing that individuals should not be thrown in jail simply for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
“Draconian marijuana laws disproportionately impact minority and indigent communities. I support meaningful marijuana policy reform because I believe all citizens ought to be treated equally under the law,” said Gonzalez.
Read related post: Poll indicates support is high for Florida medical marijuana
Seems like he would go further. And the answer is yes. “This is a step to create more acceptance and to get 
medical marijuana going,” Gonzalez told Ladra Wednesday. And if decriminalizing it altogether comes next, so be it, he said.
“That’s beyond our scope. I would agree with it, but we’re not there yet.”
Maybe the a real estate agent wants to sell some properties as grow houses. Or maybe he’s just like the majority of Americans who, according to Gallup polls year after year, think that pot should be legalized.
Ladra expects it to become an issue on Miami Beach also and — who knows? — it’s something that could extend into 2016. By then, a new medical marijuana initiative will likely be on the ballot.
Toker vote play? Marijuana debate enters local election added by Ladra on
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We tell our children not to smoke because it is bad for their health. Yet, our unethical politicians kowtow to the wishes of the criminal element and those who cannot control their vices and seek to pass ordinances and new laws to make it easier for our children to become part of a drug induced world complete with the tragedies that go along with it.
If I remember correctly while growing up, those who chose to smoke weed or enjoy the drugs that followed that open door instead of attending classes at our school were referred to as potheads or burnouts. After a few years of that lifestyle you could see the results of their actions. They were the ones who ended up in prison or worked menial jobs because their brain cells were fried.
Now, we allow the criminal element and every liberal known to mankind to push their lifestyle on us without recourse. Anyone who stands up to this tide is referred to as “old fashioned” or “out of touch with reality”.
That being the case, continue to support these type of drug measures without care for the harm they cause our society. I sincerely pray that the tragedies associated with drug use do not inflict your family in the future.
Sounds like the old women’s temperance societies motto
For protection of God and Home and Native Land.
Unfortunately their prohibition laws didn’t work and is actually credited with creating the vacuum that led to the modern crime syndicates
On the other hand. While stoners in the mold of “the dude” Lebowski would hardly be considered contributing members of society they are hardly a threat.
And a backhanded way decriminalizing small amounts of pot could hobble NORML’s push for full legalization taking away the whole “costs of criminalization” chapter of their playbook.
POQUITO ! Tu smoke A POQUITO mariguana will be Ok.
Like Been a POQUITO GUY What Other POQUITO is in The Next Future. Now Illegal !
Where was this Gonzalez guy when marijuana has been in the news and on the ballot all last year when he was an “elected official” in Coconut Grove council? Not one peep from that guy at all last year. Talk about disingenuous.
I think millennials are going see right through this cheap trick.
And Sally Heyman is just as bad. She’s desperate for whatever media attention she can get.
I say we get rid of both of them.