Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker took to Twitter on Wednesday, calling the government’s war on drugs a failure that unfairly targets the black population. His pointed criticism comes one day after New Jersey advanced a bill to decriminalize marijuana. If it passes, a person caught with 15 grams of pot or less would only face a $150 fine.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has not said whether he will support the bill.
While Booker did not directly address the legislation, the outspoken Democratic mayor set off a lively discussion when he tweeted a Patch article about a program that lets nonviolent drug offenders choose treatment over jail time.
Booker extolled the benefits of addiction treatment over incarceration, saying the drug war was costing billions and destroying lives.
To read all of the story by Melissa Jeltsen and the mayor’s tweets, go to HuffingtonPost
