Davidson County Sheriff Backs Pot Decriminalization Plan

NASHVILLE, TN — The Metro Council plan to reduce the penalty for small-potatoes pot possession has its first law enforcement endorsement.

In an appearance on Channel 5's MorningLine, Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall said the idea, which would make possessing less than a half-ounce of marijuana a $50 civil fine similar to a parking ticket, will ultimately save taxpayers money. Plus, he said, putting people in jail for as much as a year for a small amount of weed just does not make much sense.

Hall is the first member of the law enforcement community to announce his support for the plan. Metro Police officials have been largely mum on the idea, except to express some worries about the use of the legislative imperative "shall," which MNPD thinks may hamstring officers from using discretion in drug arrests. Backers of the council bill said they are willing to work with police to tweak the language.

Meanwhile, Hall's counterpart in Williamson County flatly opposed the idea, worried about a ripple effect of Metro's actions spreading to neighboring counties.

Hall, though, sees only positives.

During his TV appearance,, the sheriff said "Yeah, I think we should do that. I really do."

He said fewer people in jail on the front end saves money, as does re-incarceration when ex-cons' probation is violated for a small weed arrest.

Plus, he said, it just makes sense.

"Who do you want to put in a jail cell? Do you really want the 19-year-old kids with marijuana in the car, and at that level we are talking about, and then send them to jail when the same kid's parents have a liquor cabinet full of substances that will do far worse than what he had in his car," he said.

The council bill passed on the largely perfunctory first reading. The crucial vote on the second reading is scheduled for next month.

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