Voters in Portland, Maine Expect Police to Comply on Marijuana Legalization Ordinance, Says City Councilor

Last week, Portland, Maine was

one of several municipalities in the country to vote
overwhelmingly in favor of ordinances purporting to decriminalize
or legalize the possession and recreational use of certain amounts
of marijuana. Police pushed back. In Portland, where the ordinance

eliminated local penalties, police
pointed to state laws they would continue to issue citations
under, saying they had no problem with the vote because it didn’t
change anything.

Supporters of the ordinance aren’t having it.
Via the Bangor Daily News:

In a statement Friday, Tom MacMillan, chairman of the
Portland Green Independent Committee, which campaigned for the
ordinance, said, “The vote on Tuesday was a clear indication that
Portland residents want our police force to stop punishing adult
marijuana users. The police have the discretion to do so while
still enforcing city, state and federal rules for public use, use
under 21 and possession over 2.5 ounces. Portland officials must be
accountable to the will of the people.”

“It is very encouraging that marijuana possession citations have
decreased by 26 percent over a period of a year,” City Councilor
David Marshall said in the release. “The voters expect the public
and the police to comply with the ordinance when it goes into
effect. The election results are a mandate that supports the
discretion police are using in regards to adult marijuana
possession.”

Compliance: for police too.