In a move to decriminalize the use of marijuana, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced on Thursday that his office will no longer charge for simple possession.
“We are going to tell them, yes, drop any cases that are simply marijuana possession,” Krasner said in a press conference.
Krasner said that, in addition to no longer pursuing simple possession cases, his office is dropping criminal marijuana possession charges for 51 people.
“I did it because I felt it was the right thing to do,” he said, explaining his motivation to pursue such a shift in policy.
Though the office will no longer charge possession, those who are caught selling or delivering marijuana will still be charged.
Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania with upwards of 1.5 million residents, 44.2 percent of whom are black.
A report by the American Civil Liberties Union shows that, while use is equal between whites and blacks, black people are 3.73 times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession.
