The prosecutor for the biggest county in Indiana just announced his office will no longer pursue simple marijuana possession cases.
The decision from Marion County’s Prosecutor Ryan Mears was one of the first from his Indianapolis office since he took over last week after his former boss left for medical reasons.
According to the announcement by Mears on Monday, the policy change will impact cases involving approximately one ounce or less of marijuana when the charge is the only or most serious charge against an adult.
The experience Mears had as a deputy prosecutor and the rapidly changing marijuana policy in neighboring states were the leading factors in his decision.
“I have come to this decision as a veteran prosecutor. I have seen the resources devoted to these prosecutions and believe those resources can be used more effectively to promote public safety, ensure justice for victims, and reduce recidivism,” Mears said, “When faced with the choice between prosecuting this and prosecuting acts of violence, my priority is clear.”
The statement also noted regardless of the new policy, recent years have seen a downward trend in the number of simple possession cases prosecuted in Marion County. 80 percent of the possession of marijuana charges in the county this year have already been dismissed. But the decision is retroactive to cases still on deck. Mears said his office will review those pending cases involving only possession of marijuana charges to see if any are impacted by the new policy.
Mears went on to speak about the impact the move would have in the communities hit the hardest by the war on marijuana.
“Too often, an arrest for marijuana possession puts individuals into the system who otherwise