WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – It was recently announced that Washtenaw County will no longer pursue charges related to marijuana and entheogenic plants.
“I’ve seen more responsibility within these substances being unregulated than I have with regulated substances like nicotine and alcohol,” said a Washtenaw County man who did not want to be named.
Read: Washtenaw County Prosecutor: No more charges in cannabis, psychedelic plant cases
This means indictments such as possession and distribution related to marijuana or shrooms will all be off the table from a legal standpoint.
“The police have bigger things to worry about than this. They can focus on the people who are doing real crime in the community, then it’s definitely worth it,” said a Washtenaw County woman who also chose not to be identified.
Read more: City Council votes to make psychedelic mushrooms legal in Ann Arbor
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit’s team will also support the expungement of old criminal cases related to marijuana or these entheogenic plants.
In a police directive issued by the prosecutor it was stated that the change has to do with the quote, “racially disproportionate consequences of the war on drugs.”
“Many of us know people who have used substances like marijuana or psychedelics without facing criminal consequences. We should no longer continue to perpetuate the cruel roulette wheel that imposes criminal consequences only on an unlucky few,” said Savit.
Others believe the change is a double edged sword.
“It is probably a positive thing. It is gonna get a lot of criminals out of prison and will help reform the prison system and get out non-violent drug offenders. But I think it’s also gonna normalize these drugs a little bit. They can be gateway drugs,” said another anonymous Washtenaw County resident.
Criminal charges can still be filed against large-scale operations that are distributing controlled substances if the health of the public is at risk.
Driving Under the Influence charges will also remain related to these recreational drugs.