Justice and Jobs: Marijuana Reform with Pittsburgh NORML

Speaking Freely With the ACLU-PA

Content warning: This episode includes the use of a racial slur in the context of discussing the history of race baiting by advocates for marijuana prohibition. Happy 4/20! In this episode, we hear from Patrick Nightingale, criminal defense attorney, former prosecutor, and executive director of Pittsburgh NORML. Patrick discusses the state of reform efforts, how well Pennsylvania's medical marijuana is working for patients, and why he uses the term "cannabis" instead of "marijuana." After the discussion, Patrick received a response to his Right To Know request and learned that Pittsburgh police issued approximately 200 citations under the city's decriminalization ordinance in 2019. Possession arrest data for 2019 is not available, but in 2018, city police arrested 849 people for misdemeanor marijuana possession. See www.tinyurl.com/PghDecrim. The new ACLU report A Tale of Two Countries is available at this link: www.aclu.org/marijuanadata Here is the legislation referenced in this episode. House Bill 1480, reform DUI law: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1480 HB 927, lowers the grading of marijuana possession: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0927 Senate Bill 233, lowers the grading of marijuana possession: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0233 HB 2050, legalization of marijuana for adult use: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2050