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4 <br /> WHEREAS, an arrest for possession of marijuana can have an impact on housing, student <br /> loans, future employment, child custody determinations and many other circumstances; and <br /> WHEREAS, Studies also show that criminalization has not protected public health, in terms of <br /> adverse effects of marijuana itself or in deterring substance abuse and addiction; and <br /> WHEREAS, Marijuana legalization is sound public policy, necessary to address the health and <br /> societal impacts of marijuana criminalization and the inequitable implementation of <br /> incarceration-based policies, and <br /> WHEREAS, the most recent Public Policy Polling results show North Carolinians support <br /> marijuana legalization by a margin of 48% to 42%; <br /> NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> supports the decriminalization of marijuana in North Carolina and state legislation to legalize the <br /> distribution, sale, and use of marijuana products pursuant to regulatory and taxation frameworks <br /> designed to ensure appropriate use (including through age and other evidence-based <br /> restrictions) for recreational and medical purposes while providing treatment for substance <br /> abuse; <br /> BE IT FURTHERMORE RESOLVED that the Board believes such legislation should also <br /> provide for the expungement of records for individuals previously convicted of crimes of <br /> distribution, possession, or use of marijuana products; <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board believes funds from the taxation of marijuana <br /> sales should be used for the benefit of the communities most impacted by the incarceration of <br /> people for behavior that society is legalizing, including the investment of marijuana sales tax <br /> revenues for job training, reentry services, diversion programs, legal aid, literacy programs, <br /> youth mentoring and substance use treatment; <br /> AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> requests that the North Carolina General Assembly advocate for federal legislation to end the <br /> prohibition of marijuana at the federal level, with its removal from the Controlled Substance Act, <br /> and the expungement of records for those previously convicted of federal crimes for the <br /> distribution, possession, or use of marijuana, as well as authorize state legalization policies and <br /> enabling the use of marijuana for medical purposes, including in federally funded programs. <br /> This the 151h day of September, 2020. <br /> Penny Rich, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin, seconded by Commissioner Marcoplos <br /> to adopt the Resolution, and authorize the Board Chair to sign the Resolution. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he will not vote in favor of this. He said the title of the <br /> resolution mentions decriminalization, but the points within the resolution mention legalization of <br /> marijuana, taxes to be collected from marijuana, etc., which seems in conflict to the title. <br />