Tennessee Black Caucus of State

Legislators
Legislative Plaza Suite 26 Nashville, Tennessee 37243
(615) 741-1997 Office (615) 253-0361 Fax

Rep. Brenda Gilmore

Chairman, Nashville

August 29, 2016

Rep. Raumesh Akbari

Vice Chairman,
Memphis

The Honorable David Briley, Vice-Mayor and President&

Members of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County
One Public Square Ste. 204
Nashville, Tennessee 37219

Sen. Lee Harris

Secretary, Memphis
Rep. Johnnie Turner
Treasurer, Memphis

Dear Vice-Mayor Briley and Members of the Metropolitan Council:

Rep. JoAnne Favors

Parliamentarian,
Chattanooga

One of the strides that the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators
has made in the last few years has been the support and passage of
legislation reforming criminal justice in our state. This reform has
resulted in a number of positive outcomes - changing court procedures for
juveniles, eliminating restrictive criminal history on applications that can
bar employment, and reducing the severity of punishment for certain
crimes.

Rep. Harold M. Love,

Jr.
Chaplain, Nashville
Rep. Antonio
Parkinson
Sergeant at Arms,
Memphis
Rep. Joe Armstrong
Knoxville
Rep. Karen Camper
Memphis
Rep. Barbara Cooper
Memphis
Rep. John DeBerry
Memphis
Rep. G.A. Hardaway
Memphis
Sen. Thelma Harper
Nashville
Rep. Larry Miller
Memphis
Rep. Johnny Shaw
Bolivar
Sen. Reggie Tate
Memphis
Rep. Joe Towns
Memphis

In that vein, it is in that last area of change that we applaud our fellow
local legislators, the members of the Metropolitan Council of Nashville
and Davidson County, for their recent vote to advance the marijuana
decriminalization ordinance. Their stance mirrors that of cities and states
across the country who see the need to decrease current penalties for low
level marijuana possession.
Statistics have shown that the impact of these low level drug offenses hits
harder on poor and minority communities, saddling many with crippling
criminal records and lessening their chances of employment, housing and
other areas of life. Costs to locals, states and municipalities are
burdensome, law enforcement has less time to focus on more serious
offenses, and courts are bogged down with the handling of minor
infractions.
As the proposition moves forward, please know that your legislative body
has the support of our Caucus in its push to lessen the penalties of
possessing or exchanging cannabis in small amounts.
Also, it is important to remember that our focus is on decriminalization,
not making marijuana legal.
This is a major issue facing cities all across our nation. How we, as
elected officials, face this issue will affect citizens everywhere. Our
Caucus firmly stands behind the implementation of this ordinance.

TBCSL
A STATE NETWORK FOR POLITICAL EQUALITY

In Service,

Brenda Gilmore, Chairman, TBCSL

State Representative, District #54
cc: Representative Raumesh Akbari, Vice Chair
Members of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators

TBCSL
A STATE NETWORK FOR POLITICAL EQUALITY